Using the Multi-level, Integrated Database Approach (MIDA) to Reduce Non-Response Error and Contextualize Survey Analysis

调查的答复率一直在下降，人们越来越担心，不回答的偏见正在增加，并破坏调查研究数据的质量。多层次综合数据库办法(MIDA)力求解决和纠正这一问题。开发署通过以下方式极大地丰富了现有的样本框架：a)从样本框架中提取所有可能的信息，用于数据收集和分析；b)通过将来自各种公共数据库的案例级和汇总级数据联系起来，扩充样本框架；c)进一步加强数据收集，为答复者和非答复者记录在数据收集过程中产生的大量ParaData。扩大样本框中的数据可用于a)通过向采访者提供关于目标样本的更多信息来协助数据收集，b)通过比较应答者和非应答者对扩大样本框中所有案件已知的广泛案件一级和汇总一级信息的情况来评估无答复偏差，以及c)通过使用相同的背景数据对已完成案件进行分析来使分析与背景联系起来。MIDA的初步测试将从国家民意研究中心全国样本框架中抽取400个地址的样本，并使用来自广泛公共数据来源的案例级和聚集级数据来增强这些案例。然后，它将评估增加的信息的完整性和准确性，例如通过交叉检查信息源的数据。调查研究是研究人类群体最广泛使用的工具，但回复率的下降引发了人们的担忧，即由于增加的无回答偏差，调查数据的质量一直在下降。MIDA有可能：a)通过在数据收集期间向采访者提供更有用的信息来提高答复率；b)更好地评估调查中存在的无答复偏差的程度，然后制定适当的权重，以便根据检测到的偏差进行调整；以及c)通过使背景地理数据作为每个调查数据文件的一部分自动提供，从而改进数据分析。因此，MIDA应该从调查中带来科学研究的普遍改善。

Response rates in surveys have been declining, and there is growing concern that non-response bias is increasing and undermining the quality of survey-research data. The multi-level, integrated database approach (MIDA) seeks to address and redress this problem. MIDA greatly enriches existing sample frames by a) extracting all possible information from the sample frame for use in data collection and analysis, b) augmenting the sample frame by linking in both case-level and aggregate-level data from a wide range of public databases, and c) further enhancing the data collection by recording for both respondents and non-respondents a large degree of paradata generated during the data-collection process itself. The data in the augmented sample frame can be used to a) assist in data collection by providing interviewers with more information about the target sample, b) assess non-response bias by comparing respondents and non-respondents on the extensive case-level and aggregate-level information known for all cases in the augmented sample frames, and c) contextualize analysis by using the same contextual data for analysis on the completed cases. This initial test of MIDA will draw a sample of 400 addresses from the National Opinion Research Center national sample frame and augment those cases with case-level and aggregate-level data from a wide range of public data sources. It will then assess the completeness and accuracy of the added information such as by crosschecking data across information sources.Survey research is the most widely used tool for studying human populations, but the decline in response rates has raised the concern that the quality of data from surveys has been falling due to increased non-response bias. MIDA has the potential to a) improve response rates by providing interviewers with more useful information during data collection, b) better asses the level of non-response bias that exists in surveys and then develop appropriate weights to adjust for whatever bias is detected, and c) improve data analysis by making contextual, geographical data automatically available as part of every survey data file. MIDA should thus lead to a general improvement in scientific research from surveys.