Data Sources: Surveys Flashcards
Define a ‘survey’.
Information is collected on a sample of the
population.
List four important uses of surveys.
- Having rich data on a specific health topic as well as
living standards and other complementary variables - Often repeated over time allowing for measurement of
time trends - Conducted in multiple countries, allowing for
benchmarking - Currently the most common and overall most reliable
data source for health monitoring in low and middle income countries
What is The Health Survey for England?
A series of annual cross-sectional surveys since 1991, where approximately 4000-15000 households are randomly selected and interviewed each year.
How is data collected in the Health Survey for England?
- Self-reported data is initially collected through face-to-face interviews via CAPI (Computer Personal Assisted
Interviewing) - Biomedical data collected by a nurse at a later visit
Why is it important that this survey has a large sample size and include random selection?
We can make inferences about the general population living in private households.
List limitations of surveys.
- Biases can arise, e.g. selection bias (e.g. low response rates), measurement issues – reliability & validity (e.g. social
desirability, recall biases), respondent fatigue - Survey may not be representative of small
subpopulations of interest - May exclude segments of the population e.g.
homeless, mental health institutions
Define ‘cross-sectional survey’.
Observational data is collected from a
population at a specific point in time.
Define ‘longitudinal survey’.
A survey that records observations from the
same groups of individuals over time.
What are the advantages of longitudinal studies?
- Can examine events and outcomes across time,
including a life span - ‘Reverse causality’, problem with cross-sectional
studies are not as severe
What are the disadvantages of longitudinal surveys?
- Costly to administer, not widely available in LIC
- Attrition can be a problem
