New Directions for State and Local Telephone Surveys

• Activity Number: 633
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 2, 2012 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Michael P Battaglia*+ and Martin R. Frankel and Lina S. Balluz
• Companies: Abt Associates and Baruch College and CDC
• Keywords: dual frame design ; random-digit-dailing ; health surveys ; landline telephones ; cellular telephones ; BRFSS

Abstract

State and local health surveys of the adult population in households include the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the New York City Community Health Survey, and the Los Angeles County Health Survey. These surveys currently use partial or full overlap dual frame random-digit-dialing sample designs with single-mode telephone data collection. The questionnaires contain numerous skip patterns and may include add-on modules, physical measurement studies and special follow-up studies. We discuss RDD sampling methods to enhance coverage of adults with telephone service, the inclusion of cell-mostly adults, the construction of a probability sample of adults with telephone service including the within-household sampling of an adult from landline telephone households, and the inclusion of young adults in college-based group quarters. Given the objectives of each survey the strengths and weaknesses of the telephone sample designs and data collection methods are discussed. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the rapid adoption of personal communication/Web access mobile devices and the decline in the use of first-class mail in the U.S.