ABARE Fuel and Electricity Survey, Financial Year 2001/2002
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 sample will be a stratified simple random sample.
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.
The stratification for the ABS population list component of the survey will be by State of location, by industry (aggregations of ANZSIC classes), by size (EVAO or employment).
This stratification has been adopted because figures by State and industry grouping (with published levels of industries being aggregations of stratum level industries) are of direct interest. Finer industry stratification has been used where it is believed that levels and patterns of energy use differ significantly within a publication industry over and above the effects of differing size (eg. Alumina producers and Aluminium smelters are known to have different energy usage characteristics than other manufacturers in ANZSIC group 272).
Size stratification has been used because it is known that, within an ANZSIC class, energy use tends to be larger for larger businesses.
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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.
The sample has been allocated at state by industry level in proportion to previous estimates of total energy use. The sample is distributed across strata within state by industry in proportion to aggregate employment (or EVAO). This allocation is subject to the constraint of a minimum stratum level sample size of 5.
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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.
A sample of approximately 5,000 will be selected from the ABS population list (the sample may be larger or smaller depending on the exact number of units that fall into completely enumerated strata - this cannot be determined exactly prior to sample selection due to confidentiality constraints used by ABS in preparing data on population numbers). There are approximately 800 units from other lists. The final sample number will depend on the match rate between the ABS sample and the other lists used.
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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).
The proportion of businesses to be sampled which are expected to be live and in scope is approximately 97-98%, with the proportion of business units out of scope being approximately 2-3%.
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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).
The previous methodology used for collecting this survey achieved a response rate of approximately 37%. With the use of preliminary contact letters, and more vigorous telephone follow up it is hoped to achieve a response rate in excess of 50%.
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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 (apart from the smaller units tend to be non-respondents). An analysis of patterns of non-response and their potential consequences for estimates will be provided as an output from the current collection.
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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.
Non-responses will be monitored and an intensive follow-up undertaken for non-responding businesses that are felt to be unique in their patterns or levels of energy use. If a non-response for these units remains, an assessment will be made of the necessity to clerically impute responses for these businesses. Otherwise a non-response will be treated as ignorable, given stratum level information. An assessment of the sensitivity of estimates to this process will be incorporated into the non-response report compiled at the conclusion of the survey.
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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)
Consideration will be given to sample rotation in the next round of the FES, subject to further consideration of the continuing suitability and cost effectiveness of the ABS frame versus direct use of the Australian Business Register maintained by the ATO. To allow identification of 2001 FES selections in the emerging development of ABS and ABR registers, the ABN will be sought from all respondents.
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