Introduction/Overview

Not everyone responds to a survey request, and those that do may not answer every question. To correct for this missing data, it may be necessary to use imputation and weighting strategies.

Unit non-response is best handled with weighting, to ensure underrepresented populations are reflected in the final data set. This course considers how these weights work along with other survey weights (e.g. design and post-stratification).

Item non-response is best handled with imputation, filling in missing responses with usable data. The course starts by looking at the pros and cons of older simplistic methods of imputation, then more sophisticated methods.

For both of these topics, the course presents the debates in the literature, and includes real life examples. The course does not focus on specific software but rather on the decisions to be made in choosing an implementing and appropriate method. Breakout sessions will help to put learning into practice.

Objectives

By the end of the course participants should:

• Have knowledge of a variety of data imputation methods and their pros, cons and trade-offs,
• Have knowledge of simple and complex weighting schemes and their pros, cons and trade-offs.
• Be able to make informed choices about which particular imputation method(s) and which particular weighting method(s) are best for their data

Topics

• Missing data in surveys
• Are your data missing at random or not, and the implication of types of missing data
• Review of basic cell weighting
• Imputation strategies, from more simple to more complicated methods, and the pros and cons of each
• 3 stages of weighting - design weights; non-response weights; post-stratification to known population total weights
• Examples of complex weighting schemes
• Developments, issues, and debates in weighting

Who will benefit?

Both participants who want to use imputation and weighting strategies on their data but also participants who want some knowledge of these topics for critiquing other’s work.

Participants need knowledge and experience of survey statistics and sampling. The SRA course on “Sampling and an Introduction to Weighting” would also be a good prerequisite.

Learning outcomes

• Participants will have a better knowledge of post data collection adjustment strategies,
• Will also have knowledge of the pitfalls of each of the methods discussed, and
• Participants will see how this information can lead to better quality survey results.

Course tutor

Dr. Tarek Al Baghal is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, and has a PhD in Survey Research and Methodology from the University of Nebraska. He is the lead questionnaire designer for the Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study. He has taught a number of methods courses, including Survey Sampling and Questionnaire Design.

Course fee payable to SRA.

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme.

n.b. This course runs over two consecutive afternoons:

Part 1 - 19 May 2022 - 12.30 pm to 5.00 pm

Part 2 - 20 May 2022 - 12.30 pm to 5.00 pm