Coordinated Collection and the Quality of Paradata for CAPI Surveys at Statistics Canada

• Activity Number: 593
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Lihua An*+ and Guy Laflamme
• Companies: Statistics Canada and Statistics Canada
• Keywords: cost model ; data collection ; paradata quality ; sample coordination ; computer assisted personal interview

Abstract

Collection cost represents a large portion of the budget allocated to carry out surveys using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). To improve efficiency, the samples of three major ongoing Statistics Canada CAPI surveys using continuous collection are coordinated to ensure that the same geographical areas are targeted during the same collection period. Using this approach, we hope to reduce the interviewer travel time and distances and thus decrease collection costs. This paper focuses on the paradata quality issues encountered when we try to assess whether these expected savings are materialised. The quality and "fitness for use" of the available paradata are evaluated.