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All (253) (0 to 10 of 253 results)

  • 1. Comparing two common approaches to within-household sampling: A field experiment in Costa Rica
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202600100004
    Description: We test the notion that a quasi-probabilistic method of selecting individuals within households (last birthday, LB) draws in a different sample compared to a non-probabilistic approach that selects respondents according to known parameters on age and gender (frequency matching, FM). With data from an original field experiment, we evaluate fieldwork efficiency (time and completed cases), economy (cost), success in recruiting a representative sample, and differences across a set of attitudinal and behavioral measures. We find that the FM approach performs better on efficiency and cost and achieves a comparable sample; importantly, this comparability extends across measures of personality traits and public opinion. With appropriate caveats, we conclude that researchers’ choice of selection methods should be guided by both theoretical benefits and practical tradeoffs.
    Release date: 2026-06-29
  • 2. Improving measurement error and representativeness in nonprobability surveys
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202600100013
    Description: In the age of big data, nonprobability surveys are becoming increasingly abundant. Data integration techniques involving both probability and nonprobability surveys are being extensively used for providing improved estimates for finite population estimation. While much of the existing research has focused on mitigating selection bias in nonprobability surveys, the issue of measurement error within these surveys remains relatively unexplored. Statistical methods devised with the purpose of reducing selection bias are appropriate for reliable estimation, only under the assumption of accuracy of survey responses. Motivated by a recent case study of Kennedy, Mercer and Lau (2024), our research addresses bias from both measurement and sampling errors in nonprobability surveys. In this article, we propose a new data integration method that uses multiple probability and nonprobability surveys and leverages machine learning models to construct a composite estimator. The proposed composite estimator integrates probability and nonprobability surveys, when both contain response variables of interest. We analyze the performance of this estimator in comparison to an existing composite estimator in literature, analytically as well as empirically, using multiple survey data from Kennedy et al. (2024). Finally, we identify conditions under which the proposed estimator outperforms estimators based solely on probability surveys.
    Release date: 2026-06-29
  • 3. Effects of model misspecification on small area estimators
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200001
    Description: Nested error regression models are commonly used to incorporate unit specific auxiliary variables to improve small area estimates. When the mean structure of the model is misspecified, the design-based mean squared prediction error (MSPE) of Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (EBLUP) generally increases. The Observed Best Prediction (OBP) method has been proposed with the intent to improve on the design-based MSPE over EBLUP. In this paper, we conduct a Monte Carlo simulation experiments to understand the effect of misspsecification of mean structures on different small area estimators. Our findings suggest that the OBP using unit-level auxiliary variables does not outperform the EBLUP in terms of design-based MSPE, unless the number of small areas m is extremely large. Conversely, the performance of OBP significantly improves when area-level auxiliary variables are employed. This paper includes both analytical and numerical evidence to demonstrate these observations, providing practical insights for addressing model misspecification in small area estimation (SAE).
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 4. Who’s asking? Interviewer effects on unit nonresponse in the Household Finance and Consumption Survey
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200002
    Description: This study examines interviewer effects on household nonresponse in three waves of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) in Austria using a multilevel model. Addressing nonresponse at its source is crucial for maintaining survey data quality and representativeness. Our findings indicate that the variation in response behavior explained by interviewer effects decreased from about one-third in the first wave to 7% in the third wave. Effective interviewers tend to have a university degree, be married, homeowners, and have a larger workload. Additionally, higher mean wages in the household’s municipality negatively affect survey participation. These insights suggest targeted interviewer selection and training strategies to improve response rates.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 5. Collinearity diagnostics in generalized linear models fitted with survey data
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200004
    Description: The class of generalized linear models (GLM) is a flexible generalization of ordinary least squares regression that allows the linear model to be related to the response variable via a link function and assumes the magnitude of the variance of each measurement to be a function of its predicted value. Multicollinearity in GLMs can inflate variances of the estimated coefficients and cause poor prediction in certain regions of the regression space. It may also cause a nonsignificant Wald statistic even when the predictors are highly predictive in a model of the family of GLMs. Little previous research has closely investigated the diagnostics of multicollinearity in GLMs, especially when complex survey data are used. In this paper, we develop variance inflation factors (VIFs) that measure the amount that the variance of a parameter estimator is increased due to multicollinearity in GLMs. We also extend VIFs and condition indexes to apply to complex survey data, accounting for design features, e.g. weights, clusters, and strata. Illustrations of these methods are given using data from a household survey of health and nutrition.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 6. Approximate hierarchical Bayes small area estimation using Natural Exponential Family with Quadratic Variance Function and poststratification
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200011
    Description: We propose an approximate hierarchical Bayes approach that uses the Natural Exponential Family with Quadratic Variance Function (NEF-QVF) in combining information from multiple sources to improve traditional survey estimates of finite population means for small areas. Unlike other Bayesian approaches in finite population sampling, we do not assume a model for all units of the finite population and do not require linking sampled units to the finite population frame. We assume a model only for the finite population units in which the outcome variable is observed; because, for these units, the assumed model can be checked using existing statistical tools. We do not posit an elaborate model on the true means for unobserved units. Instead, we assume that population means of cells with the same combination of factor levels are identical across small areas, and that the population mean for a cell is identical to the mean of the observed units in that cell. We apply our proposed methodology to a real-life survey, linking information from multiple disparate data sources. We also provide practical ways of model selection that can be applied to a wider class of models under similar setting but for a diverse range of scientific problems.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 7. Advancing Equitable Data Collection: Insights from Statistics Canada's Statistical Integration Methods Division Disaggregated Data Action Plan Research Project Archived
    Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100013
    Description: As part of answering the call to action for the United Nations' (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as addressing social, economic, and equity challenges within Canada, Statistics Canada's five-year development phase for the Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP) was funded in 2021 to support data driven decision around these challenges. In turn, the document "Guiding Principles: Leveraging the 2021 Census of Populations Data for DDAP Groups of Interest" were created. The guiding principles document explains the organizational framework of the DDAP in the Agency, describes existing data sources, addresses ethical and privacy concerns, and centralizes sampling methods tailored for DDAP initiatives while accounting for characteristics which can complicate sampling and data collection procedures.
    Release date: 2025-09-08
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. A New Origin-to-Destination Table of Canadian Manufacturing Sales: Challenges with Imputing a Distribution from Annual Survey Data Archived
    Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100034
    Description: Until now, detailed data on the destination of manufacturing sales have not historically been available to Canadians. Through integration of annual survey data, a destination of sales table by industry and province of origin was developed for the annual and monthly manufacturing surveys at Statistics Canada. Respondents for the annual survey are asked for their distribution of sales as a percentage across 15 destinations. To tackle the difficulty of generating an establishment-level distribution for multi-province respondents, three approaches were compared: using the respondents' total distribution for all their establishments, using optimization, and using the distributions of the single-province respondents. The imputed distribution of destination sales from the annual data was then applied to the monthly survey's sales value. This paper delves into challenges faced with imputing the destination sales (especially for respondents with establishments in multiple provinces), ensuring sales match marginal origin province totals, and allocating a distribution of destinations based on data from the annual program to the monthly estimates.
    Release date: 2025-09-08
Stats in brief (2)

Stats in brief (2) ((2 results))

  • 1. Created Equal Archived
    Stats in brief: 45-20-00032022002
    Description: Canada’s diversity and rich cultural heritage have been shaped by the people who have come from all over the world to call it home. But even in our multicultural society, eliminating all forms of discrimination remains a challenge. In this episode, we turn a critical eye to the ways that cognitive bias risks perpetuating systemic racism. Statistics are supposed to accurately reflect the world around us, but are all data created equal? Join our guests, Sarah Messou-Ghelazzi, Communications Officer, Filsan Hujaleh, Analyst with the Centre for Social Data Insights and Innovation, and Jeff Latimer, Director General - Accountable for Health, Justice, Diversity and Populations at Statistics Canada as we explore the role data can play to make Canada a more equal society for all.
    Release date: 2022-03-16
  • 2. The Journey of Statistics Canada Data: Why it Matters to You Archived
    Stats in brief: 11-627-M2022016
    Description:

    This infographic explains the steps involved in collecting data for all Statistics Canada household and business surveys. The responses are compiled, analyzed and used to make important decisions and are kept strictly confidential.

    Release date: 2022-02-28
Articles and reports (251)

Articles and reports (251) (0 to 10 of 251 results)

  • 1. Comparing two common approaches to within-household sampling: A field experiment in Costa Rica
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202600100004
    Description: We test the notion that a quasi-probabilistic method of selecting individuals within households (last birthday, LB) draws in a different sample compared to a non-probabilistic approach that selects respondents according to known parameters on age and gender (frequency matching, FM). With data from an original field experiment, we evaluate fieldwork efficiency (time and completed cases), economy (cost), success in recruiting a representative sample, and differences across a set of attitudinal and behavioral measures. We find that the FM approach performs better on efficiency and cost and achieves a comparable sample; importantly, this comparability extends across measures of personality traits and public opinion. With appropriate caveats, we conclude that researchers’ choice of selection methods should be guided by both theoretical benefits and practical tradeoffs.
    Release date: 2026-06-29
  • 2. Improving measurement error and representativeness in nonprobability surveys
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202600100013
    Description: In the age of big data, nonprobability surveys are becoming increasingly abundant. Data integration techniques involving both probability and nonprobability surveys are being extensively used for providing improved estimates for finite population estimation. While much of the existing research has focused on mitigating selection bias in nonprobability surveys, the issue of measurement error within these surveys remains relatively unexplored. Statistical methods devised with the purpose of reducing selection bias are appropriate for reliable estimation, only under the assumption of accuracy of survey responses. Motivated by a recent case study of Kennedy, Mercer and Lau (2024), our research addresses bias from both measurement and sampling errors in nonprobability surveys. In this article, we propose a new data integration method that uses multiple probability and nonprobability surveys and leverages machine learning models to construct a composite estimator. The proposed composite estimator integrates probability and nonprobability surveys, when both contain response variables of interest. We analyze the performance of this estimator in comparison to an existing composite estimator in literature, analytically as well as empirically, using multiple survey data from Kennedy et al. (2024). Finally, we identify conditions under which the proposed estimator outperforms estimators based solely on probability surveys.
    Release date: 2026-06-29
  • 3. Effects of model misspecification on small area estimators
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200001
    Description: Nested error regression models are commonly used to incorporate unit specific auxiliary variables to improve small area estimates. When the mean structure of the model is misspecified, the design-based mean squared prediction error (MSPE) of Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (EBLUP) generally increases. The Observed Best Prediction (OBP) method has been proposed with the intent to improve on the design-based MSPE over EBLUP. In this paper, we conduct a Monte Carlo simulation experiments to understand the effect of misspsecification of mean structures on different small area estimators. Our findings suggest that the OBP using unit-level auxiliary variables does not outperform the EBLUP in terms of design-based MSPE, unless the number of small areas m is extremely large. Conversely, the performance of OBP significantly improves when area-level auxiliary variables are employed. This paper includes both analytical and numerical evidence to demonstrate these observations, providing practical insights for addressing model misspecification in small area estimation (SAE).
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 4. Who’s asking? Interviewer effects on unit nonresponse in the Household Finance and Consumption Survey
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200002
    Description: This study examines interviewer effects on household nonresponse in three waves of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) in Austria using a multilevel model. Addressing nonresponse at its source is crucial for maintaining survey data quality and representativeness. Our findings indicate that the variation in response behavior explained by interviewer effects decreased from about one-third in the first wave to 7% in the third wave. Effective interviewers tend to have a university degree, be married, homeowners, and have a larger workload. Additionally, higher mean wages in the household’s municipality negatively affect survey participation. These insights suggest targeted interviewer selection and training strategies to improve response rates.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 5. Collinearity diagnostics in generalized linear models fitted with survey data
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200004
    Description: The class of generalized linear models (GLM) is a flexible generalization of ordinary least squares regression that allows the linear model to be related to the response variable via a link function and assumes the magnitude of the variance of each measurement to be a function of its predicted value. Multicollinearity in GLMs can inflate variances of the estimated coefficients and cause poor prediction in certain regions of the regression space. It may also cause a nonsignificant Wald statistic even when the predictors are highly predictive in a model of the family of GLMs. Little previous research has closely investigated the diagnostics of multicollinearity in GLMs, especially when complex survey data are used. In this paper, we develop variance inflation factors (VIFs) that measure the amount that the variance of a parameter estimator is increased due to multicollinearity in GLMs. We also extend VIFs and condition indexes to apply to complex survey data, accounting for design features, e.g. weights, clusters, and strata. Illustrations of these methods are given using data from a household survey of health and nutrition.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 6. Approximate hierarchical Bayes small area estimation using Natural Exponential Family with Quadratic Variance Function and poststratification
    Articles and reports: 12-001-X202500200011
    Description: We propose an approximate hierarchical Bayes approach that uses the Natural Exponential Family with Quadratic Variance Function (NEF-QVF) in combining information from multiple sources to improve traditional survey estimates of finite population means for small areas. Unlike other Bayesian approaches in finite population sampling, we do not assume a model for all units of the finite population and do not require linking sampled units to the finite population frame. We assume a model only for the finite population units in which the outcome variable is observed; because, for these units, the assumed model can be checked using existing statistical tools. We do not posit an elaborate model on the true means for unobserved units. Instead, we assume that population means of cells with the same combination of factor levels are identical across small areas, and that the population mean for a cell is identical to the mean of the observed units in that cell. We apply our proposed methodology to a real-life survey, linking information from multiple disparate data sources. We also provide practical ways of model selection that can be applied to a wider class of models under similar setting but for a diverse range of scientific problems.
    Release date: 2025-12-23
  • 7. Advancing Equitable Data Collection: Insights from Statistics Canada's Statistical Integration Methods Division Disaggregated Data Action Plan Research Project Archived
    Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100013
    Description: As part of answering the call to action for the United Nations' (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as addressing social, economic, and equity challenges within Canada, Statistics Canada's five-year development phase for the Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP) was funded in 2021 to support data driven decision around these challenges. In turn, the document "Guiding Principles: Leveraging the 2021 Census of Populations Data for DDAP Groups of Interest" were created. The guiding principles document explains the organizational framework of the DDAP in the Agency, describes existing data sources, addresses ethical and privacy concerns, and centralizes sampling methods tailored for DDAP initiatives while accounting for characteristics which can complicate sampling and data collection procedures.
    Release date: 2025-09-08
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. A New Origin-to-Destination Table of Canadian Manufacturing Sales: Challenges with Imputing a Distribution from Annual Survey Data Archived
    Articles and reports: 11-522-X202500100034
    Description: Until now, detailed data on the destination of manufacturing sales have not historically been available to Canadians. Through integration of annual survey data, a destination of sales table by industry and province of origin was developed for the annual and monthly manufacturing surveys at Statistics Canada. Respondents for the annual survey are asked for their distribution of sales as a percentage across 15 destinations. To tackle the difficulty of generating an establishment-level distribution for multi-province respondents, three approaches were compared: using the respondents' total distribution for all their establishments, using optimization, and using the distributions of the single-province respondents. The imputed distribution of destination sales from the annual data was then applied to the monthly survey's sales value. This paper delves into challenges faced with imputing the destination sales (especially for respondents with establishments in multiple provinces), ensuring sales match marginal origin province totals, and allocating a distribution of destinations based on data from the annual program to the monthly estimates.
    Release date: 2025-09-08

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