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Optimal recall length in survey design

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  • Clarke, Philip M.
  • Fiebig, Denzil G.
  • Gerdtham, Ulf-G.

Abstract

Self-reported data collected via surveys are a key input into a wide range of research conducted by economists. It is well known that such data are subject to measurement error that arises when respondents are asked to recall past utilisation. Survey designers must determine the length of the recall period and face a trade-off as increasing the recall period provides more information, but increases the likelihood of recall error. A statistical framework is used to explore this trade-off. Finally we illustrate how optimal recall periods can be estimated using hospital use data from Sweden's Survey of Living Conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Clarke, Philip M. & Fiebig, Denzil G. & Gerdtham, Ulf-G., 2008. "Optimal recall length in survey design," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 1275-1284, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:27:y:2008:i:5:p:1275-1284
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    1. Rochelle Belkar & Waranya Pim Chanthapun & Denzil G. Fiebig, 2007. "A discrete choice model with misclassification and multiple recall periods," Discussion Papers 2007-10, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
    2. Dyfrig Hughes & Joanna Charles & Dalia Dawoud & Rhiannon Tudor Edwards & Emily Holmes & Carys Jones & Paul Parham & Catrin Plumpton & Colin Ridyard & Huw Lloyd-Williams & Eifiona Wood & Seow Tien Yeo, 2016. "Conducting Economic Evaluations Alongside Randomised Trials: Current Methodological Issues and Novel Approaches," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 447-461, May.
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    12. Thomas F. Crossley & Joachim K. Winter, 2014. "Asking Households about Expenditures: What Have We Learned?," NBER Chapters, in: Improving the Measurement of Consumer Expenditures, pages 23-50, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Kjellsson, Gustav & Clarke, Philip & Gerdtham, Ulf-G., 2014. "Forgetting to remember or remembering to forget: A study of the recall period length in health care survey questions," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 34-46.
    14. Buurman, Margaretha & Delfgaauw, Josse & Dur, Robert & Van den Bossche, Seth, 2012. "Public sector employees: Risk averse and altruistic?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 279-291.
    15. Emer Fogarty & Cathal Walsh & Christopher McGuigan & Niall Tubridy & Michael Barry, 2014. "Direct and Indirect Economic Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 12(6), pages 635-645, December.
    16. Juan Ignacio Rosales Leal & Cristian Sánchez Vaca & Aleksandra Ryaboshapka & Félix de Carlos Villafranca & Miguel Ángel Rubio Escudero, 2023. "How Confinement and Back to Normal Affected the Well-Being and Thus Sleep, Headaches and Temporomandibular Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    17. Christina Gravert & Kai Barron & Mette Trier Damgaard & Lisa Norrgren, 2020. "Time Preferences and Medication Adherence: A Field Experiment with Pregnant Women in South Africa," CEBI working paper series 20-29, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    18. Engle-Stone, Reina & Sununtnasuk, Celeste & Fiedler, John L., 2017. "Investigating the significance of the data collection period of household consumption and expenditures surveys for food and nutrition policymaking: Analysis of the 2010 Bangladesh household income and," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 72-80.
    19. Lu, Chunling & Liu, Kai & Li, Lingling & Yang, Yuhong, 2017. "Sensitivity of measuring the progress in financial risk protection to survey design and its socioeconomic and demographic determinants: A case study in Rwanda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 11-18.
    20. Kai Barron & Mette Trier Damgaard & Christina Gravert & Lisa Norrgren, 2022. "Time Preferences and Medication Adherence: Evidence from Pregnant Women in South Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9988, CESifo.
    21. José Cuesta & Camilo Bohórquez, 2011. "Estimating recall bias without gold standards: job tenure in Colombia," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(8), pages 703-709.
    22. Kim Dalziel & Jinhu Li & Anthony Scott & Philip Clarke, 2018. "Accuracy of patient recall for self‐reported doctor visits: Is shorter recall better?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(11), pages 1684-1698, November.
    23. Van Vliet, Olaf & Been, Jim & Caminada, Koen & Goudswaard, Kees, 2011. "Pension reform and income inequality among the elderly in 15 European countries," MPRA Paper 32940, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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