On the Quality of Ancillary Data Available for Address-Based Sampling

• Activity Number: 654
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 5, 2010 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Charles DiSogra*+ and Erlina Hendarwan
• Companies: Knowledge Networks and Knowledge Networks
• Keywords: ABS ; KnowledgePanel ; vacant ; stratification ; minority

Abstract

A feature of address-based sampling (ABS) is versatility of the sample frame where many ancillary data can be appended to an address. Commercial databases (e.g., Experian, infoUSA, Acxiom) are used to append observed and modeled information at various levels of aggregation. This enables researchers to develop more efficient sample designs and broaden analytical possibilities with expanded sets of covariates. While quality of ancillary data is of concern for researchers, the literature provides only anecdotal assessments on accuracy. Relying on surveys and KnowledgePanel recruitment samples that employ ABS, the authors present results of comparisons between an array of ancillary data and corresponding observed values collected directly from the responding households.