Combining estimates from surveys

For estimating the proportion and total of an item for the present occasion, independent estimates at the current and previous occasions are combined through three different procedures. In the first one, trend over the occasions is utilized. For the second one, the One-Way Random Effects Model is employed. The third procedure uses the Empirical Bayes approach. All the three procedures are seen to perform better than the sample estimates obtained from the data of the current occasion alone. Advantages of these methods and their limitations are discussed. All the procedures are illustrated with the data from the National Health Discharge Survey.