Marcin Hitczenko
Working Paper 2021-10
February 2021
Abstract: Researchers interested in studying the frequency of events or behaviors among a population must rely on count data provided by sampled individuals. Often, this involves a decision between live event counting, such as a behavioral diary, and recalled aggregate counts. Diaries are generally more accurate, but their greater cost and respondent burden generally yield less data. The choice of survey mode, therefore, involves a potential tradeoff between bias and variance of estimators. I use a case study comparing inferences about payment instrument use based on different survey designs to illustrate this dilemma. I then use a simulation study to show how and under what conditions a hybrid survey design can improve efficiency of estimation, in terms of mean-squared error. Overall, this work suggests that such a hybrid design can have considerable benefits as long as there is nontrivial overlap in the diary and recall samples.
JEL classification: C15, C81, C83
Key words: recall surveys, diaries, bias, mean-squared error, multi-level models
https://doi.org/10.29338/wp2021-10
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Please address questions regarding content to Marcin Hitczenko, Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 1000 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.
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