Multi-Mode Address-Based Sampling and Mode Effects in REACH U.S.

• Activity Number: 65
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, July 31, 2011 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Kanru Xia*+ and Lee Fiorio and Whitney Murphy and Karri Carris
• Companies: NORC at the The University of Chicago and NORC at the The University of Chicago and NORC at the The University of Chicago and NORC at the The University of Chicago
• Keywords: address-based sampling ; multi-mode ; coverage ; bias ; mode effects

Abstract

Coverage is expected to improve greatly using ABS instead of RDD because addresses can be contacted via mail when a telephone number is not available, but differences by mode both in the characteristics of the population surveyed and in survey estimates are a potential result. This paper addresses these issues in the context of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health across the U.S. (REACH U.S.) Risk Factor Survey. REACH U.S. is the cornerstone of CDC's efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic health disparities. It employs a multi-mode ABS approach using telephone, mail, and in-person interviewing to complete interviews during each year of the survey. Analysis of Year 1 data indicated that 34% of mail surveys were answered by cell phone only households. To further study the extent to which the population can be contacted by various data collection modes and examine potential mode effects, we will use Year 2 data to analyze how respondent demographic characteristics vary across modes and whether key health estimates differ by mode. Moreover, we will compare REACH U.S. health estimates to those of a benchmark survey such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.