Evaluation of nonresponse in the nationwide food consumption survey, 1987-88

82 Pages·1993·3.3 MB·English

by  Guenther, Patricia M. (Patricia Maxine), 1948-

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
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U.S. DepartmentofiAgriculture Hum<3n Niitritioi Infcrmation Service
Abstract
Response ratesforthe 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS 1987-88) werevery iow--38 percent at
the household level and 31 percent atthe individual level. This publication provides information onthe procedures
used in NFCS 1987-88, the response rates, and the characteristics ofthe unweighted samplecompared with
population estimates from the U.S. Bureau ofthe Census. The regression weighting approach usedto adjustfor
nonresponse is described. Analysesdoneto evaluatethe effectof nonresponse on estimates offood and nutrient
intakes in NFCS 1987-88 are presented. Results of astudyof attrition suggestedthatthe regression weighting may
correct nonresponse bias. Thestudy showed that differences between respondents and nonrespondents in eating
behaviorwere predictable becausetheywere caused by known socioeconomic variables,which can be adjustedfor
byweighting, and were notcaused bysomeother unknown and nonrandom, and thus unpredictable, response
propensity. Also, acomparison of NFCS 1987-88 withthe NFCS 1977-78 and the 1985 and 1986 Continuing Survey
of Food Intakes by Individuals revealed that differences in results appearedto be caused bythe differences in
methodology, design, and target samples ratherthan by nonresponse. Despite the low response rate, the NFCS
1987-88 provides betterestimates of current dietary intake than doesthe NFCS 1977-78. Users must balancetheir
need forthe data andtheirtolerancefor error againstthe limitationsofthedata.
Keywords: Dietary survey, food intakes, nonresponse.
Suggested Citation: Guenther, P.M., and Tippett, K.S. (eds.). 1993. Evaluation of Nonresponse in the Nationwide
Food Consumption Survey, 1987-88. Washington: U.S. Dept. ofAgriculture, Human Nutrition Information Service.
Nationwide Food Consumption Survey 1987-88, NFCS Rep. No. 87-M-2, 76 pp.
National A^ricuhural^L^^
September 1993
Evaluation of
Nationwide
Food Consumption
Nonresponse
Survey
Report No. 87'M-2
the Nationwide
in
Food Consumption
Survey, 1987-88
Patricia M. Guenther and Katherine S. Tippett
Editors
mi
u.sj„A„,
JAN 2 4 2000
Cataloging Prep
U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Information Service
Acknowledgments
In addition tothe authorswhoconductedthe analyses and wrotespecificsectionsofthis report, thefollowing Human
Nutrition Information Servicestaff memberscontributed eithertothe dataanalyses orto the editing and production of
the report:Joseph D. Goldman, MaryY. Hama, James T. Heimbach, Renee A. Powell, Johna L. Pierce, Joanne
Rosenthal Levine, Gerald L. Smith, Carol A. Nathan, and Katherine E. Sykes.
TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture (USDA)prohibitsdiscriminationin itsprogramsonthe basisofrace, color, national
origin, sex, religion,age, disability, political beliefsandmaritalorfamilial status. (Notall prohibitedbasesapplytoall programs).
Personswithdisabilitieswhorequirealtemativemeansforcommunicationofprograminformation(braille, largeprint,audiotape,etc.)
shouldcontactthe USDAOfficeofCommunicationsat(202) 720-5881 (voice)or(202) 720-7808 (TDD).
Tofileacomplaint,writetheSecretaryofAgriculture, U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250, orcall
[phone](voice)or(202)720-1127(TDD). USDAisanequalemploymentopportunityemployer
ii
Contents
Page
Abstract Insidefrontcover
Acknowledgments
ii
ListofTables iv
Listof Figures v
Introduction 1
Chapter 1: Background, by KatherineS. Tippettand Alvin B. Nowverl 2
Chapter2: DemographicCharacteristicsoftheSample, byPhillip S. Kott
and Patricia M. Guenther 6
Chapter3: Construction of Weighting Factors, byWayne A. Fuller,
Marie M. Loughin, and Harold D. Baker 13
Chapter4: Comparison of Results With OtherSurveys, by
P. Peter Basiotis and Milton R. Goldsamt 24
Chapter5: Intrasurvey Comparison, by Rhonda S. Sebastian 32
Conclusions 36
Literature Cited 37
Appendix: Impactof Nonresponse on Dietary Datafromthe 1987-88 Nationwide
Food Consumption Survey, Life Sciences Research Office (textpagesonly) 41
iii
6
List of Tables
Page
1. Participation levelsforthe 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey,
basicsample, byquarter 4
2. Response rates in the 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, basic
sample 5
3. MFCS 1987-88 household component: Comparisons ofthe unweighted
sample (NFCS) and population (CPS) characteristics, 1987 7
4. NFCS 1987-88 individual intake component: Comparisons ofthe unweighted sample
(NFCS) and population (CPS) characteristics, bysex-age category, 1987 9
5. Seasonal distribution of household sample 15
6. Propertiesof alternative estimatorsforselected household variables 1
7. Design effects of unweighted meansfor selected household variables 16
8. Temporal distributionsof day 1 and 3-day samples 19
9. Design effectsof unweighted meansforselected individual variables 21
10. Properties of alternative estimatorsforselected individual variables 22
11. Comparision of distributionsof population characteristicsof individualsfrom weighted NFCS
and CPS 25
12. Classification of households by level ofparticipation, NFCS 1987-88 33
iv
List of Figures
Figure No Page
.
Comparison ofselected sociodemographicvariablesfrom NFCS 1987-88 and
NHIS 1987
1. Age 28
2. Employment 28
3. Urbanization 28
4. Living alone 28
Comparison ofselected health variablesfrom NFCS 1987-88and NHIS 1987
5. Self-reported height 29
6. Self-reportedweight 29
7. Vitamin and mineral supplement use 29
8. Smoking 29
Comparisonof selectedfoodfrequencyvariablesfrom NFCS 1987-88 and
NHIS 1987
9. Cheese 30
10. Ice cream 30
11. Dried beans 30
12. Dark-green leafy vegetables 30
13. Estimatedfood energy intakesfrom four USDAsurveys 31