Sample Surveys Seminar 4 by Mike De Dad

Sample Surveys Seminar #4 by: Mike De. Dad

NCEE Standards in Economics: Survey of Students and the Public What is/are the population(s) of interest? All adults 18 years of age of older in the United States All students in grades 9 -12 in the United States

NCEE Standards in Economics: Survey of Students and the Public Does this sample adequately represent the population of interest? We can’t really know for sure, but they think it does Louis Harris & Associates, Inc. completed 1, 010 telephone interviews with a national cross-section of adults 18 years of age or older. Interviews of the public averaged 10 minutes in length and were conducted from Harris' facilities in Youngstown, OH, between January 22, 1999 and February 3, 1999. A nationally representative sample of 1, 085 students in grades 9 through 12 were surveyed during an English class using a self-administered questionnaire. Interviews averaged fifteen minutes in length and were conducted between January 26, 1999 and March 4, 1999.

NCEE Standards in Economics: Survey of Students and the Public From another Louis Harris and Associates, Inc. survey “The Louis Harris and Associates, Inc. Telephone Sample is based on a methodology that is designed to produce representative samples of persons in telephone households in the selected geographic region. The Harris Telephone Sample makes use of random-digit selection procedures that assure sample representation of persons in both households that are "listed" in telephone directories, as well as persons in households that are "unlisted" in telephone directories. “ What type of bias would probably be of the biggest concern with this type of sampling? Non-response

NCEE Standards in Economics: Survey of Students and the Public What is the variable of interest? The respondents’ levels of interest in domestic or international politics, business or finance, economics, natural history, and science. What was, or should have been, the format of these survey questions? Closed survey questions with choices of: very interested/somewhat interested/not interested Categorical or Quantitative? Categorical

Northeast Region Marine Recreational Economics Survey 5. How old were you on your last birthday? ENTER NUMBER Don't Know 8 Refused 9 What is the variable of interest and what type is it? Age on his or her last birthday Quantitative if they enter their actual ages What is the problem with asking the question this way? It is a slightly sensitive topic

Northeast Region Marine Recreational Economics Survey What is a better way of asking this question? 5. How old were you on your last birthday? (IF RESPONDENT HESITATES, QUICKLY GO TO Q. 5 A. ) ENTER NUMBER Don't Know 8 Refused 9 5 a. That is, in which of the following age groups do you belong? 16 to 25 1 26 to 35 2 36 to 45 3 46 to 55 4 56 to 65 5 66 and over 6 Don't Know 8 Refused 9 How does this change the variable of interest? It is now categorical

Northeast Region Marine Recreational Economics Survey 19. Code Gender: Male 1 Female 2 IF UNCERTAIN, SIMPLY ASK WHAT IS YOUR GENDER? What is wrong with this question? Too blunt What would be a better way to get an answer to this? Unfortunately, there really isn’t a much better way

Fund$Raiser Cyberzine: Past Fundraising Survey Questions and Results When is the last time you bought a candy bar from someone knocking on your door? Within 30 days- 8% Within 90 days- 4% Within the last year- 20% Never- 68% What is wrong with this question? Overly restrictive options Doesn’t give the option of “more than a year ago” Most likely caused many people to answer “never” (68%)

Fund$Raiser Cyberzine: Past Fundraising Survey Questions and Results What time of year does your group do the most fundraising? Fall - 42. 4% Winter - 18. 4% Spring - 10. 6% Year Round - 39. 1% What is wrong with this question? Overly restrictive options Doesn’t give the option of “summer”

Fund$Raiser Cyberzine: Past Fundraising Survey Questions and Results How has your nonprofit's fundraising been affected by September 11 th? Hurt - 63% No Affect - 26% Helped - 11% What is wrong with this question? Overly restrictive options Doesn’t give the option of “I don’t know”

Fund$Raiser Cyberzine: Past Fundraising Survey Questions and Results Describe your attitude towards fundraising. Can't wait - 50% I will if I have to - 35% Not again!- 10% Never again!- 5% What is wrong with this question? Unbalanced Response Options Negative responses outweigh positive (results are surprising) Possible deliberate bias Volunteer Bias

What Do You Wear to Bed? What do you do on a Friday night? Stay in and go to bed early Head out with friends/significant other to eat Hit the bars and party til morning What is wrong with this question? Deliberate bias Just because someone stays in, it doesn’t mean they have to go to bed early (implies that this is not “cool”) Wording of the choices implies that partying is the “coolest” choice

Sources http: //www. nefsc. noaa. gov/techniques/recsurvey/chap 1. html http: //www. fundsraiser. com/quizlet. html http: //www. ncee. net/cel/results. php#survey_method http: //www. quizopolis. com/what-do-you-wear-to-bed. php