Quiz 2 Pols R

Survey inference

using sample information to draw conclusions about a population

Population characteristics

traits or values of the entire population

Sample characteristics

traits or values of the selected subset of a population

Respondent

a person who answers survey questions

Aggregation

combining individual responses to describe a larger group

Research objective

the specific information or question a survey is meant to address

Mode of data collection

the method used to gather survey responses

Sampling frame

the list or source used to identify population members for sampling

Questionnaire

the set of questions used in a survey

Sample

the selected group of people invited to participate in a survey

Coding

assigning responses to categories or values for analysis

Editing

reviewing and correcting survey data

Post-survey adjustments

changes made after data collection to improve estimates

Survey statistic

a numerical summary calculated from survey data

Survey error

the difference between what was desired in the survey process and what was obtained

Total survey error

an approach that considers all possible sources of survey error together

Weakest link analogy

the idea that a survey is only as strong as its weakest design or execution feature

Measurement

collecting answers that represent a respondent’s characteristics

Representation

ensuring respondents accurately reflect the target population

Construct

the underlying concept or information a researcher wants to measure

Validity

the extent to which a measure reflects the underlying construct

Measurement error

the difference between the respondent statistic of interest and the true population statistic

Response bias

the difference between an expected value and the true value being estimated

Processing error

error caused by coding editing or handling survey data

Coverage error

error that occurs when the target population differs from the sampling frame

Undercoverage

when some target population members are missing from the sampling frame

Overcoverage

when the sampling frame includes ineligible units

Ineligible units

members of a sampling frame who are not actually part of the target population

Coverage bias

error caused by uncovered people differing from covered people

Sampling error

error caused by observing a sample rather than every member of the population

Sampling bias

systematic failure to observe some frame elements because of the sample design

Sampling variance

variation in survey statistics across different possible samples

Precision

how close repeated estimates are likely to be to one another

Nonresponse error

error that occurs when respondent data differs from data for the entire sample

Postsurvey weighting

adjusting responses to correct for coverage sampling and nonresponse errors

Adjustment error

error caused by incorrect post-survey adjustments

Credibility

whether a survey is seen as neutral objective and unbiased

Relevance

how well a survey measure matches the information needed by the user

Timeliness

whether survey results are available when they are needed

CARI

Computer Audio-Recorded Interviewing

Computer Audio-Recorded Interviewing

recording interview audio and screen captures to evaluate data collection

CAPI

Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing

CATI

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing

Recency effects

the tendency for respondents to select answer choices presented most recently

Falsification

intentionally fabricating or altering survey data

Interviewer effects

changes in responses caused by the interviewer’s behavior or characteristics

Open-end responses

answers respondents give in their own words