Practical criteria for definition of weighting classes - ARCHIVED

When the technique of adjustment using weighting classes is applied to compensate for the effect of non-response, several questions arise that call for precise and quantified answers: How does the choice of the variables used for definition of the classes affect total root-mean-square error, in particular non-response bias and sampling variance? What rule and what procedure should be followed in choosing the adjustment variables? On the basis of what criterion can the optimal sizes for the weighting classes be established? Finally, when this procedure is applied to compensate for non-response with respect to specific elements of a questionnaire, how can strongly correlated ancillary variables be used effectively when they themselves are affected by non-response? This article is addressed to those professionals working at a practical level who are seeking guidelines.