On the Use of Auxiliary Data in Multiple-Source Extensions of Adaptive Survey Design Concepts and Methods

• Activity Number: 549 - Integration of Design and Estimation Approaches in the Use of Auxiliary Data with Sample Surveys
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 11, 2022 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
• Author(s): Kayla Varela* and Stephanie Coffey and John L. Eltinge and Jaya Damineni and Anup Mathur
• Companies: US Census Bureau and US Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and US Census Bureau and US Census Bureau
• Keywords: optimization; agile processes; web-sourced data; administrative records; production systems; adaptive survey design

Abstract

Survey methodology has evolved repeatedly to meet changing survey environments by incorporating new features that respond to the most pressing constraints, often the cost to conduct a high-quality data collection operation. Most recently, continued technology advances including increased computing power and the advent of paradata (Couper 2000; 2017) have enabled adaptive survey designs (Groves and Heeringa 2006; Schouten, Peytchev and Wagner 2017; Rosenblum et al. 2018). While continued improvements in paradata capture and real-time data processing will lead to further refinements of the adaptive design frameworks, survey methodology is at a new crossroads with respect to information production. Administrative data, third-party commercial data, and found data have captured the attention of data users who prioritize low cost, fast information production. This paper explores some open questions in the adaptive design of procedures for the capture of data from multiple sources. The scope of this presentation will include some elements of customary adaptive design of sample surveys, but will focus on the availability and capture of data from non-survey sources.