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On a Modular Approach to the Design of Integrated Social Surveys

Author

Listed:
  • Ioannidis Evangelos

    (Athens University of Economics and Business, Patission str. 76, 10434 Athens, Greece.)

  • Merkouris Takis

    (Athens University of Economics and Business, Patission str. 76, 10434 Athens, Greece.)

  • Zhang Li-Chun

    (University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom and Statistics Norway.)

  • Karlberg Martin

    (European Commission (Eurostat), L-2920 Luxembourg.)

  • Petrakos Michalis

    (Agilis SA, Acadimias 96-100, 10677 Athens, Greece)

  • Reis Fernando

    (European Commission (Eurostat), L-2920 Luxembourg.)

  • Stavropoulos Photis

    (Agilis SA, Acadimias 96-100, 10677 Athens, Greece.)

Abstract

This article considers a modular approach to the design of integrated social surveys. The approach consists of grouping variables into ‘modules’, each of which is then allocated to one or more ‘instruments’. Each instrument is then administered to a random sample of population units, and each sample unit responds to all modules of the instrument. This approach offers a way of designing a system of integrated social surveys that balances the need to limit the cost and the need to obtain sufficient information. The allocation of the modules to instruments draws on the methodology of split questionnaire designs. The composition of the instruments, that is, how the modules are allocated to instruments, and the corresponding sample sizes are obtained as a solution to an optimisation problem. This optimisation involves minimisation of respondent burden and data collection cost, while respecting certain design constraints usually encountered in practice. These constraints may include, for example, the level of precision required and dependencies between the variables. We propose using a random search algorithm to find approximate optimal solutions to this problem. The algorithm is proved to fulfil conditions that ensure convergence to the global optimum and can also produce an efficient design for a split questionnaire.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioannidis Evangelos & Merkouris Takis & Zhang Li-Chun & Karlberg Martin & Petrakos Michalis & Reis Fernando & Stavropoulos Photis, 2016. "On a Modular Approach to the Design of Integrated Social Surveys," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 32(2), pages 259-286, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:offsta:v:32:y:2016:i:2:p:259-286:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/jos-2016-0013
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lejeune, Miguel A., 2003. "Heuristic optimization of experimental designs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(3), pages 484-498, June.
    2. Angelis, L. & Bora-Senta, E. & Moyssiadis, C., 2001. "Optimal exact experimental designs with correlated errors through a simulated annealing algorithm," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 275-296, September.
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