Indian Statistical Service Examination (with Indian Economic Service) · India · Union Public Service Commission
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersTurning a sampling design into data: pilot surveys, questionnaire and schedule design, enumerator training and supervision, CAPI and digital data capture, total survey error, non-sampling error models and post-enumeration checks, as used in large-scale agricultural and household surveys.
In the exams: AICE-JRF Ag Stat Unit 5 'non-sampling errors', 'design and organization of pilot and large scale surveys' (heavy); UPSC ISS Statistics III (present); national statistical offices (applied)
How our questions for Indian Statistical Service Examination spread across the units of Survey Design, Questionnaires, Field Operations & Non-Sampling Errors. Difficulty: 1 easy, 9 medium, 6 hard.
| Non-sampling errors: sources and classification | 3 | |
| Planning a survey: objectives, population, frame and budget | 2 | |
| Response errors and interviewer effects; interpenetrating sub-samples | 2 | |
| Post-enumeration surveys and coverage evaluation | 2 | |
| Data processing, editing, coding and tabulation | 2 | |
| Pilot and pre-tests | 1 | |
| Questionnaire and schedule design; recall periods | 1 | |
| Field organisation: training, supervision and scrutiny | 1 | |
| Total survey error framework | 1 | |
| Confidentiality, disclosure control and release of microdata | 1 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
An SRS calculation gives n0 = 400. With design effect 1.5 and expected response rate 80%, what sample should be drawn (n = n0 x deff / response rate)?
D. 750
n = 400 x 1.5 / 0.8 = 750.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Why do NSS expenditure rounds use different reference periods for different items?
B. Optimal recall differs by purchase frequency
Frequent food items suit short recall; durables suit a year.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Why should supervision be independent of the investigator's reporting line?
B. It encourages honest reporting of problems
Independence makes checks credible.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Response rate 80%, respondent mean 50, non-respondent mean 40. What is the bias of the respondent mean (bias = (1 - RR)(mean_r - mean_nr))?
C. 2
(1 - 0.8) x (50 - 40) = 2.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Which remedy for non-response sub-samples non-respondents for intensive follow-up?
D. Hansen-Hurwitz technique
Treated in sampling-theory-advanced.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Who introduced interpenetrating sub-samples?
A. P. C. Mahalanobis
In the ISI's Bengal crop surveys.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Census count 900, PES count 800, matched 720. What is the dual-system estimate N = n1 n2 / m?
D. 1000
900 x 800/720 = 1000.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
In an agricultural census, what does re-measurement of holdings in sample villages estimate?
A. Content error in reported area
Re-measurement compares reported with measured area.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Crop areas summing to net sown area is an example of which edit?
B. Consistency edit
It checks a relationship between fields.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
Survey weights are first computed as:
A. Inverse selection probabilities
Then adjusted for non-response and calibrated.
Further reading: Groves et al., Survey Methodology; Murthy, Sampling Theory and Methods; Sukhatme et al., Sampling Theory of Surveys with Applications
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