Abstract #300628


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JSM 2002 Abstract #300628
Activity Number: 255
Type: Contributed
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods*
Abstract - #300628
Title: An Example from the Overseas Survey Program at the Department of State
Author(s): David Nolle*+ and Ruth Citrin and Fritz Scheuren
Affiliation(s): U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of State and NORC/University of Chicago
Address: 301 Fourth Street, SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20547, USA
Keywords: coverage ; nonresponse ; translations ; management
Abstract:

The survey program at the Department of State is not widely known, even though it is quite extensive. This paper will look at one such survey, focusing on the sample design issues which arise when the frames available are weak and interviewing difficulties--due to accessibility and safety concerns--require some departures from strict randomization-based inference. Questionnaire design issues can pose even tougher problems. The translation from one language to another is an obvious issue but perhaps of even greater significance is the challenge of translating from one culture to another. This makes a pilot all the more important, as was true in our case. The paper also covers contract management issues. With our one-time survey, these added still more layers of complexity. Nonetheless, because of the careful use of internal controls and an interactive delivery of data, the results obtained proved quite useful.


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