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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.
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    9. 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.
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    11. Kirstine Hansen & Dylan Kneale, 2013. "Does How You Measure Income Make a Difference to Measuring Poverty? Evidence from the UK," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 1119-1140, February.
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    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Richard A Iles & Thomas L Marsh & S M Thumbi & Guy H Palmer, 2022. "Effects of changes in short-term human cognition on reported healthcare utilisation," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(11), pages 1-12, November.
    16. Hao, Zhuang & Zhang, Xudong & Wang, Yuze, 2024. "Assessing the accuracy of self-reported health expenditure data: Evidence from two public surveys in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 356(C).
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.
    21. 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.
    22. 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.
    23. 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).
    24. 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.
    25. 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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