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TABLE 2 Alternative Sample Frame Designs
Excel | CSV
| Description |
Frame
consists of smaller geographical units (e.g., county or county clusters) of
the country; involves a multi-stage approach to selecting sample units, the
first being selected areas |
A frame compiled
from a listing of the target population unit (typically people, households,
or establishments) |
Sample
frame constructed or borrowed from rotated out or "retired" frames (typically
area or list sample frames) |
Utilization of
more than one frame (e.g., random-digit dial and area) |
| Advantages |
. Often provides more complete coverage of the target population
. Efficiencies in (in-person) interviewing because of clustered design |
. Often provides more complete coverage of the target population (assuming lists are up-to-date)
. List often contains auxiliary information that can be used for sampling or data-collection purposes |
. More cost-effective sample frame, because it has already been listed/compiled
. Provides already collected unit information that can be used for sampling and data-collection purposes |
. Can provide for more cost-effective survey design
. Can help to address coverage issues |
| Disadvantages |
. Data-collection costs are typically much more expensive, because sampled households cannot always be interviewed by less expensive data-collection modes, e.g., by mail or telephone.
. Precision of resulting survey estimates is often negatively impacted because of clustered (areas) sample design |
. Cost and resource limitations sometimes make this option unaffordable
. Appropriate, accurate lists do not always exist (or are not accessible) |
. Effect of respondent burden and fatigue resulting from prior survey participation
. Coverage can become an issue if the list is not updated or new growth in the area is not accounted for |
. Adds complexity to sampling, weighting and estimation
. Can increase overall data-collection costs (especially when combining with area frame) |
| Examples |
. Current Population Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics-BLS) |
. American Community Survey (Census Bureau) |
. 1995 American Travel Survey
. 2003 American Time Use Survey (BLS) |
. National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) (Urban Institute) |
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