![IconGems-Print](images/IconGems-Print.png)
640 – Topics in Adaptive/Responsive Survey Designs
Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Responsive Sampling Strategy in MEPS
Sadeq R. Chowdhury
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Attempting to obtain responses through repeated follow-ups of reluctant respondents both complicates the data collection process and incurs considerable extra costs to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component. Due to more extensive follow-up and lower response rates, the costs per completed interview for these households are significantly higher compared to households that respond to initial contacts. A responsive design that subsamples non-respondents after a reasonable number of follow-ups is being considered as an option to reduce data collection efforts and costs in the MEPS. Using survey paradata, this talk presents a cost-benefit analysis of subsampling interim nonrespondents. It will discuss potential benefits in terms of costs savings and increased response rates versus loss in precision of estimates due to increased design effects.