Sampling Theory and Survey Design in Public Health

Catalog description

This course will provide a survey of the fundamental types of probability sampling designs that are used for data collection with Public Health Surveillance Sample Surveys including: systematic random sampling (including Random-Digit Dialing), simple and stratified random sampling, cluster sampling and multistage sampling. The course will briefly discuss the applications of current survey research methods including web-based surveys and the use cell phones within the context of surveillance systems and registry-based samples. The role of survey design choices in reducing total survey error as well as the role of questionnaire design in reducing non-sampling biases will be discussed briefly. The main topics to be covered in detail include: design-based parameter and variance estimation methods, construction and use of survey weights and statistical models incorporating sample designs as well as the used of survey sampling for registry based samples and matched case/control studies. Methods for evaluating, reducing and adjusting for survey.