ABARE survey of businesses in Australia's mining technology services sector, 2002
Contents
H. Sample Design
H1 Sample design
What sample design will be used, eg census, stratified simple random sample? (H1)
Note. Should include the sample selection strategy, and, if the sample design is multi-stage or multi-phase (or both), the sample selection strategy used in each stage/phase.
The collection is aiming to be a census of companies belonging to the Australian mining technology services sector. The MTS sector is small with the potential for a more lucrative export market. It is also vastly diverse in its good/service range. In order to guarantee sufficient representation of each good/service range a census needs to be collected.
If a census, go to H4
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H2 Sample stratification
What stratification has been used in the sample design? (H2)
Note. Should include: stratification variables; stratification boundaries (noting any strata which are completely enumerated); reasons stratification strategy adopted; and, if multi-stage/phase sampling is being used, report stratification for each stage/phase.
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H3 Sample allocation
How has the sample been allocated to strata? (H3)
Note. Should include: allocation formulae (if used), and from where data referenced by formulae obtained; minimum and maximum stratum sample size constraints; reasons why the allocation strategy was adopted; and, if multi-stage or multi-phase sampling is being used, report for each stage/phase.
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H4 Sample size
What is the expected total number of businesses you will attempt to contact (ie total sample size initially drawn)? How has this been set? (H4)
Note. Should include: total number of businesses that the agency will attempt to contact including expected non-responding businesses; any constraints which have been imposed (eg RSEs, Confidence Intervals, cost); if multi-stage/phase sampling is being used, should report for each stage/phase; if the survey is a census, then the total sample size should be the same as the total number of units on the frame reported in G4; and, if quota sampling is used, should indicate the number of businesses the agency will attempt to contact.
Since the survey is a census, the total number of mining technology services companies that will be sent a survey is 487, which is the same number as in question G4.
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H5 Expected live and in scope units
Of the total number of businesses reported in H4, how many businesses are expected to be live and in scope? (H5)
Note. Should include how these estimates were determined (response should take into consideration frame issues reported in G6) and, if the sample is multi-phase, should include these quantities for each phase. Should exclude: businesses expected to be defunct (ie no longer in business); expected non businesses (eg private individual); businesses contacted that are expected to not fall into the scope of the survey for some other reason (eg a retail business in a manufacturing survey); if quota sampling is used, businesses expected to be contacted but not required (eg where quotas have already been filled).
Greater than or equal to 90% of companies are expected to be live and in scope. This estimate has allowed for a 10% error for companies that were included in the MTS sector but should not have been, companies that may no longer be in business, and companies that may have been merged/acquired.
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H6 Response rate
Of the number of businesses reported in H5, how many businesses are expected to respond (ie the responding sample size)? (H6)
Note. Should include: how these estimates were determined; target relative standard error (RSE) levels on selected data output items (if any) and reasons for choice; if the sample is multi-phase, should indicate these quantities for each phase; and, if quota sampling is used, should indicate the size of the desired sample (this should be a subset of H5).
It is hoped that all units will respond to the survey. A target response rate of 50% - 75% has been set.
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H7 Representativeness of respondents
What evidence is there that the expected respondents will be representative of non-respondents? (H7)
Note. This item addresses the concern that expected survey non-response may bias the survey results. The effect of non-response bias on survey results is lowest when the response rate is high, or when respondents are representative of non-respondents.
There is no evidence available at this stage. However, by completing a census of the MTS sector we are hoping to capture a diverse cross-section of companies that will cover the complete good/service range. Also, we are aiming for a fairly high response rate which should minimise non-response bias as much as possible.
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If a census, go to I1
H8 Allowances for non-response
What allowances have been made for expected non-response and frame deficiencies in the sample design? (H8)
Note. Should include allowances made for: refusals, non-contacts, expected defunct units (ie units no longer in business), and expected out of scope units.
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H9 Respondent burden across surveys
What consideration has been given to ensuring respondent burden is spread evenly by controlling sample selection across surveys, or (for repeating surveys) over survey cycles? (H9)
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