Survey Data

About Survey Data

• Public health researchers often use survey data to help them examine health-related behaviors, and psychosocial well-being (Cromley & McLafferty, 2012b).
• Primary sampling units (PSU): are used in sample surveys, and refer to sampling units that are selected in the first (primary) stage of a multi-stage sample ultimately aimed at selecting individual elements (Cromley & McLafferty, 2012b).
• The CDC National Health Care Surveys are designed to answer key questions of interest to health care policy makers, public health professionals, and researchers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013d).
• Surveys can also be used to screen for particular health conditions. These proactive public health surveys attempt to uncover a health condition before it becomes a problem (Cromley & McLafferty, 2012b).
  • Since screening programs only target high-risk populations, any estimates and maps prepared from this data only pertain to the screened population (Cromley & McLafferty, 2012b).
  • Screening penetration: the percentage of the at risk population screened (Cromley & McLafferty, 2012b).

Survey Data Handouts

• Major U.S. Surveys (PDF)