# Survey Methodology A method to correct for frame membership error in dual frame estimators

by Dong Lin, Zhaoce Liu and Lynne StokesNote 1

• Release date: December 17, 2019

## Abstract

Dual frame surveys are useful when no single frame with adequate coverage exists. However estimators from dual frame designs require knowledge of the frame memberships of each sampled unit. When this information is not available from the frame itself, it is often collected from the respondent. When respondents provide incorrect membership information, the resulting estimators of means or totals can be biased. A method for reducing this bias, using accurate membership information obtained about a subsample of respondents, is proposed. The properties of the new estimator are examined and compared to alternative estimators. The proposed estimator is applied to the data from the motivating example, which was a recreational angler survey, using an address frame and an incomplete fishing license frame.

Key Words:      Hartley estimator; Bias-adjustment; Misclassification.