ESRA 2027 sessions by theme

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Survey data users require a clear understanding of the ‘representativeness’ of an achieved sample – who is included and how this relates to specific populations of interest – as this determines to whom their findings can be generalised. Those with a particular interest in a small population subgroup also need to understand to what extent an achieved sample offers ‘coverage’ of their subgroup of interest – whether such individuals have been observed in sufficient number to allow meaningful analysis.

Multiple recent changes in the survey landscape, including declining survey response rates, changes to survey modes utilised, and greater research interest in minoritised and hard-to-reach communities, have led to concerns about the coverage and representativeness of survey data. It is therefore imperative that we as survey practitioners and methodologists have a robust toolbox of approaches with which to assess and communicate representativeness and coverage to survey data users.

This session will invite submissions related to novel methodological developments (and their application) for the assessment of the coverage and representativeness of achieved survey samples. We are particularly interested in methods which take advantage of recent advances in the availability of whole population administrative data for univariable or multivariable benchmarking, as well as those which prioritise ease of communication to non-expert data users. We also invite submissions related to methodological considerations when researching population subgroups, including issues of statistical power and bias from potential non-representativeness.