Survey design

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All (330) (0 to 10 of 330 results)

1. Income Research Paper Series
Journals and periodicals: 75F0002M
Description: This series provides detailed documentation on income developments, including survey design issues, data quality evaluation and exploratory research.
Release date: 2026-05-20
2. Sampling for business surveys at Statistics Canada
Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200013
Description: This article examines the methodological complexities associated with the design of business surveys, with particular emphasis on sampling strategies implemented by National Statistical Offices (NSOs). It addresses the inherent challenges posed by the dynamic nature of the business population, which necessitates continual updates to the sampling frame to ensure representativeness and relevance. Critical design considerations include the determination of optimal sample sizes, stratification across key dimensions such as industry, geographic region, and enterprise size, as well as the treatment of business births and the exclusion of inactive (or “dead”) units. The article applies Bankier’s (1988) power allocation method to a two-way stratification scheme defined by industry and geography, evaluating its performance by comparing the resulting coefficients of variation with those obtained via a raking algorithm applied to the marginal coefficients. Furthermore, the approach is extended to a multivariate context to accommodate multiple estimation domains. The discussion also encompasses practical issues related to sample rotation and coordination, which are critical for maintaining data quality and minimizing respondent burden over time.
Release date: 2025-12-23
3. Adapting to change: Online first collection initiatives to improve the Labour Force Survey response rate
Articles and reports: 75-005-M2025001
Description: Since 2010, engaging Canadians to participate in the LFS has become more challenging due to a variety of social and technological changes. The decline in the LFS response rate accelerated in 2020, exacerbated by public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This technical paper presents preliminary results of two collection initiatives implemented using an online first strategy to improve the LFS response rates by confirming respondent contact information and expanding the availability of online response. Through these and other planned initiatives, Statistics Canada is working to ensure that the LFS estimates continue to provide an accurate and representative portrait of the Canadian labour market.
Release date: 2025-10-21
4. Improving the Automated Capture of Survey of Household Spending Receipts using advanced Machine Learning Techniques Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100004
Description: The Survey of Household Spending (SHS) conducted by Statistics Canada collects paper diaries and shopping receipts as a source of household expenditure data. An auto-capturing algorithm was created for SHS 2023 to reduce statistical clerks' manual work of extracting important information from scanned receipts of common store brands. The algorithm used Tesseract optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text characters from images of receipts, and it identified store and product entities using regular expressions, also known as regex. The goal of this study was to enhance the current auto-capture algorithm by experimenting with more advanced OCR and machine learning methods. As a result, PaddleOCR, an open-source OCR toolkit, was selected as the new default OCR engine due to its overall performance in recognizing texts, especially digits, accurately across receipts of various qualities. Additionally, entity classifiers based on support vector machines were trained on historical SHS records and existing regex patterns. By using classifiers to categorize different elements present on receipts instead of relying solely on regex patterns, product and store recognition improved. It is expected that this new algorithm will be used for SHS 2025 to improve the auto-capture quality and reduce the manual burden associated with capturing receipt variables.
Release date: 2025-09-08
5. Data-driven Imputation Strategies and their Associated Quality Indicators in Economic Surveys Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100011
Description: The use of modern "data"-driven imputation methods to treat non-response in the context of surveys processed in the Integrated Business Statistics Program at Statistics Canada has previously been explored. It was observed that these methods can lead to high quality imputation and further have the potential to result in broad efficiencies when setting up a particular survey's edit and imputation strategy. However, estimation of the associated total variance, more specifically the component due to imputation, remains a challenge. In this article, two methods for estimation of total variance are proposed and show preliminary results that have motivated us to pursue further research in this area.
Release date: 2025-09-08
6. Ahead of the Trends: J.N.K. Rao's Contributions to Survey Research Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100029
Description: J.N.K. Rao has contributed to almost every subdiscipline of survey research, including unequal-probability and two-phase sampling, variance estimation, regression and categorical data analysis, small area estimation, and data integration. For each of these topics, Rao's work anticipated and led future research directions. His contributions will be discussed in the context of broader research trends as seen in the articles of Survey Methodology over the journal's 50-year history.
Release date: 2025-09-08
7. Contributions of J.N.K. Rao to Complex Survey Multilevel Models and Composite Likelihood Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100030
Description: In the setting of multilevel models to be estimated using data from surveys with complex sampling designs, this paper outlines some contributions of the landmark paper by Rao, Verret and Hidiroglou (Survey Methodology, 2013) and subsequent related work.
Release date: 2025-09-08
8. Propensity Score Estimation and Optimal Sampling Design when Integrating Probability Samples with Non-probability Data Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100032
Description: Although non-probability data sources are not new to official statistics, a revived interest in the topic has emerged from pressures due to falling survey response rates, increasing data collection costs and a desire to take advantage of new data source opportunities from the ongoing societal digitalisation. Due to the exclusion of certain segments of the target population, inference derived solely from a non-probability data source is likely to result in bias. This work approaches the challenge of addressing the bias by integrating non-probability data with reference probability samples. The focus will be on methods to model the propensity of inclusion in the non-probability dataset with the help of the accompanying reference sample, with the modelled propensities then applied in an inverse probability weighting approach to produce population estimates. The reference sample is sometimes assumed as given. In this presentation however, an objective of finding an optimal strategy will be pursued that is, the combination of a data integration-based estimator and sample design for the reference probability sample. Recent work is discussed in which advantage is taken of the good unit identification possibilities in business surveys to study an estimator based on propensities and derive optimal (unequal) selection probabilities for the reference sample.
Release date: 2025-09-08
9. Including Non-binary Gender in the Calibration Strategy for the Canadian Long-Form Sample Survey Weights Archived
Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100033
Description: Aligning with recent needs for increased disaggregated data, in 2021 Canada became the first country to collect and disseminate data on gender diversity in a national census giving Canadians the option to select male, female, or non-binary. Due to their small size, non-binary population counts were not used in the 2021 Census long-form sample calibration procedure due to the risk of increasing the variance of estimates. This paper presents an alternative long-form calibration strategy which allows for small populations, such as the non-binary group, to be incorporated while mitigating methodological concerns. The strategy put forward can incorporate multiple small populations simultaneously while also being flexible enough to fit the calibration systems of other National Statistical Offices (NSOs). The results of a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation are presented showing improved data quality for the non-binary population under the alternative calibration strategy.
Release date: 2025-09-08
10. Authors’ response to comments on “Trends and directions in sample survey theory and methods”
Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500100010
Description: The discussants highlight promising research topics for improving the quality and granularity of estimates from surveys. We agree that continued research is needed to evaluate models used for inference, and suggest development of measures of model dependence.
Release date: 2025-06-30

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Analysis (301)

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41. Coordination of spatially balanced samples Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201800254953
Description:
Sample coordination seeks to create a probabilistic dependence between the selection of two or more samples drawn from the same population or from overlapping populations. Positive coordination increases the expected sample overlap, while negative coordination decreases it. There are numerous applications for sample coordination with varying objectives. A spatially balanced sample is a sample that is well-spread in some space. Forcing a spread within the selected samples is a general and very efficient variance reduction technique for the Horvitz-Thompson estimator. The local pivotal method and the spatially correlated Poisson sampling are two general schemes for achieving well-spread samples. We aim to introduce coordination for these sampling methods based on the concept of permanent random numbers. The goal is to coordinate such samples while preserving spatial balance. The proposed methods are motivated by examples from forestry, environmental studies, and official statistics.
Release date: 2018-12-20
42. Using balanced sampling in creel surveys Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201800254954
Description:
These last years, balanced sampling techniques have experienced a recrudescence of interest. They constrain the Horvitz Thompson estimators of the totals of auxiliary variables to be equal, at least approximately, to the corresponding true totals, to avoid the occurrence of bad samples. Several procedures are available to carry out balanced sampling; there is the cube method, see Deville and Tillé (2004), and an alternative, the rejective algorithm introduced by Hájek (1964). After a brief review of these sampling methods, motivated by the planning of an angler survey, we investigate using Monte Carlo simulations, the survey designs produced by these two sampling algorithms.
Release date: 2018-12-20
43. Optimizing a mixed allocation Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201800254959
Description:
This article proposes a criterion for calculating the trade-off in so-called “mixed” allocations, which combine two classic allocations in sampling theory. In INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) business surveys, it is common to use the arithmetic mean of a proportional allocation and a Neyman allocation (corresponding to a trade-off of 0.5). It is possible to obtain a trade-off value resulting in better properties for the estimators. This value belongs to a region that is obtained by solving an optimization program. Different methods for calculating the trade-off will be presented. An application for business surveys is presented, as well as a comparison with other usual trade-off allocations.
Release date: 2018-12-20
44. Model based inference using ranked set samples Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201800154925
Description:
This paper develops statistical inference based on super population model in a finite population setting using ranked set samples (RSS). The samples are constructed without replacement. It is shown that the sample mean of RSS is model unbiased and has smaller mean square prediction error (MSPE) than the MSPE of a simple random sample mean. Using an unbiased estimator of MSPE, the paper also constructs a prediction confidence interval for the population mean. A small scale simulation study shows that estimator is as good as a simple random sample (SRS) estimator for poor ranking information. On the other hand it has higher efficiency than SRS estimator when the quality of ranking information is good, and the cost ratio of obtaining a single unit in RSS and SRS is not very high. Simulation study also indicates that coverage probabilities of prediction intervals are very close to the nominal coverage probabilities. Proposed inferential procedure is applied to a real data set.
Release date: 2018-06-21
45. Strategies for subsampling nonrespondents for economic programs Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201800154929
Description:
The U.S. Census Bureau is investigating nonrespondent subsampling strategies for usage in the 2017 Economic Census. Design constraints include a mandated lower bound on the unit response rate, along with targeted industry-specific response rates. This paper presents research on allocation procedures for subsampling nonrespondents, conditional on the subsampling being systematic. We consider two approaches: (1) equal-probability sampling and (2) optimized allocation with constraints on unit response rates and sample size with the objective of selecting larger samples in industries that have initially lower response rates. We present a simulation study that examines the relative bias and mean squared error for the proposed allocations, assessing each procedure’s sensitivity to the size of the subsample, the response propensities, and the estimation procedure.
Release date: 2018-06-21
46. Sample allocation for efficient model-based small area estimation Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201700114817
Description:
We present research results on sample allocations for efficient model-based small area estimation in cases where the areas of interest coincide with the strata. Although model-assisted and model-based estimation methods are common in the production of small area statistics, utilization of the underlying model and estimation method are rarely included in the sample area allocation scheme. Therefore, we have developed a new model-based allocation named g1-allocation. For comparison, one recently developed model-assisted allocation is presented. These two allocations are based on an adjusted measure of homogeneity which is computed using an auxiliary variable and is an approximation of the intra-class correlation within areas. Five model-free area allocation solutions presented in the past are selected from the literature as reference allocations. Equal and proportional allocations need the number of areas and area-specific numbers of basic statistical units. The Neyman, Bankier and NLP (Non-Linear Programming) allocation need values for the study variable concerning area level parameters such as standard deviation, coefficient of variation or totals. In general, allocation methods can be classified according to the optimization criteria and use of auxiliary data. Statistical properties of the various methods are assessed through sample simulation experiments using real population register data. It can be concluded from simulation results that inclusion of the model and estimation method into the allocation method improves estimation results.
Release date: 2017-06-22
47. Unequal probability inverse sampling Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201600214660
Description:
In an economic survey of a sample of enterprises, occupations are randomly selected from a list until a number r of occupations in a local unit has been identified. This is an inverse sampling problem for which we are proposing a few solutions. Simple designs with and without replacement are processed using negative binomial distributions and negative hypergeometric distributions. We also propose estimators for when the units are selected with unequal probabilities, with or without replacement.
Release date: 2016-12-20
48. A note on the concept of invariance in two-phase sampling designs Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201600214662
Description:
Two-phase sampling designs are often used in surveys when the sampling frame contains little or no auxiliary information. In this note, we shed some light on the concept of invariance, which is often mentioned in the context of two-phase sampling designs. We define two types of invariant two-phase designs: strongly invariant and weakly invariant two-phase designs. Some examples are given. Finally, we describe the implications of strong and weak invariance from an inference point of view.
Release date: 2016-12-20
49. Adaptive rectangular sampling: An easy, incomplete, neighbourhood-free adaptive cluster sampling design Archived
Articles and reports: 12-001-X201600214684
Description:
This paper introduces an incomplete adaptive cluster sampling design that is easy to implement, controls the sample size well, and does not need to follow the neighbourhood. In this design, an initial sample is first selected, using one of the conventional designs. If a cell satisfies a prespecified condition, a specified radius around the cell is sampled completely. The population mean is estimated using the \pi-estimator. If all the inclusion probabilities are known, then an unbiased \pi estimator is available; if, depending on the situation, the inclusion probabilities are not known for some of the final sample units, then they are estimated. To estimate the inclusion probabilities, a biased estimator is constructed. However, the simulations show that if the sample size is large enough, the error of the inclusion probabilities is negligible, and the relative \pi-estimator is almost unbiased. This design rivals adaptive cluster sampling because it controls the final sample size and is easy to manage. It rivals adaptive two-stage sequential sampling because it considers the cluster form of the population and reduces the cost of moving across the area. Using real data on a bird population and simulations, the paper compares the design with adaptive two-stage sequential sampling. The simulations show that the design has significant efficiency in comparison with its rival.
Release date: 2016-12-20
50. An Overview of Selected International Business Record Linkage Programs Archived
Articles and reports: 18-001-X2016001
Description:
Although the record linkage of business data is not a completely new topic, the fact remains that the public and many data users are unaware of the programs and practices commonly used by statistical agencies across the world.
This report is a brief overview of the main practices, programs and challenges of record linkage of statistical agencies across the world who answered a short survey on this subject supplemented by publically available documentation produced by these agencies. The document shows that the linkage practices are similar between these statistical agencies; however the main differences are in the procedures in place to access to data along with regulatory policies that govern the record linkage permissions and the dissemination of data.
Release date: 2016-10-27

Reference (29)

Reference (29) (0 to 10 of 29 results)

1. 2019 Census Content Test: Design and methodology Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 98-20-00012020020
Description:
This fact sheet provides detailed insight into the design and methodology of the content test component of the 2019 Census Test. This test evaluated changes to the wording and flow of some questions, as well as the potential addition of new questions, to help determine the content of the 2021 Census of Population.

Release date: 2020-07-20
2. Use of Administrative Data to Increase the Efficiency of the Sample Design for the New National Travel Survey Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 11-522-X201700014749
Description:
As part of the Tourism Statistics Program redesign, Statistics Canada is developing the National Travel Survey (NTS) to collect travel information from Canadian travellers. This new survey will replace the Travel Survey of Residents of Canada and the Canadian resident component of the International Travel Survey. The NTS will take advantage of Statistics Canada’s common sampling frames and common processing tools while maximizing the use of administrative data. This paper discusses the potential uses of administrative data such as Passport Canada files, Canada Border Service Agency files and Canada Revenue Agency files, to increase the efficiency of the NTS sample design.
Release date: 2016-03-24
3. The General Social Survey: New Data Overview Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 89-631-X
Description:
This report highlights the latest developments and rationale behind recent cycles of the General Social Survey (GSS). Starting with an overview of the GSS mandate and historic cycle topics, we then focus on two recent cycles related to families in Canada: Family Transitions (2006) and Family, Social Support and Retirement (2007). Finally, we give a summary of what is to come in the 2008 GSS on Social Networks, and describe a special project to mark 'Twenty Years of GSS'.
The survey collects data over a twelve month period from the population living in private households in the 10 provinces. For all cycles except Cycles 16 and 21, the population aged 15 and older has been sampled. Cycles 16 and 21 sampled persons aged 45 and older.
Cycle 20 (GSS 2006) is the fourth cycle of the GSS to collect data on families (the first three cycles on the family were in 1990, 1995 and 2001). Cycle 20 covers much the same content as previous cycles on families with some sections revised and expanded. The data enable analysts to measure conjugal and fertility history (chronology of marriages, common-law unions, and children), family origins, children's home leaving, fertility intentions, child custody as well as work history and other socioeconomic characteristics. Questions on financial support agreements or arrangements (for children and the ex-spouse or ex-partner) for separated and divorced families have been modified. Also, sections on social networks, well-being and housing characteristics have been added.
Release date: 2008-05-27
4. Content of the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics Part B - Income and Wealth Content Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 75F0002M1992001
Description:
Starting in 1994, the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) will follow individuals and families for at least six years, tracking their labour market experiences, changes in income and family circumstances. An initial proposal for the content of SLID, entitled "Content of the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics : Discussion Paper", was distributed in February 1992.
That paper served as a background document for consultation with and a review by interested users. The content underwent significant change during this process. Based upon the revised content, a large-scale test of SLID will be conducted in February and May 1993.
The present document outlines the income and wealth content to be tested in May 1993. This document is really a continuation of SLID Research Paper Series 92-01A, which outlines the demographic and labour content used in the January /February 1993 test.
Release date: 2008-02-29
5. Objectives and Content of the Preliminary Interview Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 75F0002M1992007
Description:
A Preliminary Interview will be conducted on the first panel of SLID, in January 1993, as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey. The first panel is made up of about 20,000 households that are rotating out of the Labour Force Survey in January and February, 1993.
The purpose of this document is to provide a description of the purpose of the SLID Preliminary Interview and the question wordings to be used.
Release date: 2008-02-29
6. Environment Surveys of Establishments: The Canadian Experience Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 16-001-M2007004
Description:
Statistics Canada administers a number of environmental surveys that fill important data gaps but also pose numerous challenges to administer. This paper focuses on two on-going environment surveys - one newly initiated and one in the process of a redesign.
Release date: 2007-11-23
7. Recent Changes in Geography Content in the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 75F0002M2005002
Description:
This paper describes the changes made to the structure of geography information on SLID from reference year 1999 onwards. It goes into reasons for changing to the 2001 Census-based geography, shows how the overlap between the 1991 and 2001 Census-based concepts are handled, provides detail on how the geographic concepts are implemented, discusses a new imputation procedure and finishes with an illustration of the impact of these changes on selected tables.
Release date: 2005-03-31
8. Improvements in 2005 to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 71F0031X2005002
Description:
This paper introduces and explains modifications made to the Labour Force Survey estimates in January 2005. Some of these modifications include the adjustment of all LFS estimates to reflect population counts based on the 2001 Census, updates to industry and occupation classification systems and sample redesign changes.
Release date: 2005-01-26
9. Entry-Exit Component of Labour Interview for January 2003 and Income Interview for May 2003: Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 75F0002M2004006
Description:
This document presents information about the entry-exit portion of the annual labour and the income interviews of the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID).
Release date: 2004-06-21
10. Issues in the Design of Canada's Adult Education and Training Survey Archived
Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 81-595-M2003009
Geography: Canada
Description:
This paper examines how the Canadian Adult Education and Training Survey (AETS) can be used to study participation in and impacts of education and training activities for adults.
Release date: 2003-10-15

Date modified:: 2026-05-30