An Overview of Adaptive Survey Design

• Activity Number: 437
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
• Author(s): Peter V. Miller*+
• Companies: U.S. Census Bureau
• Keywords: adaptive design ; paradata ; responsive design ; modes of data collection

Abstract

This overview of adaptive survey design reviews the objectives of the approach, its historical antecedents, its status in a variety of survey organizations and its promise for the future of survey practice. The paper draws on the plans and experience of survey organizations in different countries and in the governmental, commercial and academic sectors. It considers the "building blocks" of adaptive design - systems, data resources, modes of data collection - as well as varieties of adaptive interventions and outcome measures. It identifies impediments and assesses progress in the development of adaptive design capabilities in the field. It seeks to provide a framework for understanding and tracking the progress of the adaptive design approach.