Pilot Survey Results from the Canadian Survey of Household Spending Redesign

• Activity Number: 420
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Johanne Tremblay*+ and Jenny Lynch and Guylaine Dubreuil
• Companies: Statistics Canada and Statistics Canada and Statistics Canada
• Keywords: Expenditure survey ; Collection methodology ; Diary ; Nonresponse ; Reference periods

Abstract

A major redesign of the Survey of Household Spending, conducted annually by Statistics Canada, has been undertaken over the last few years. A new data collection model, combining the use of a recall interview and a diary, was developed. The length of the recall period for certain types of expenditures was reduced and data collection was spread through the year. The content of the previous Food Expenditure Survey was also integrated. A pilot survey was conducted to evaluate this new model. This paper presents the results of the analysis on pilot data collection and data quality, including the impact of nonresponse, and the results of evaluation of the new collection methods developed for this model.