“Indirect Questioning Techniques in Sample Surveys”
with a guest talk from Professor Tasos C. Christofides (University of Cyprus).
Abstract
Survey practitioners often experience difficulties in collecting reliable data due to various sources of non-sampling error and in particular non-response. In case the issues under investigation are of sensitive nature, such as sexual orientation, tax evasion, or involvement in criminal activities, people are reluctant to participate, and even if they agree to participate, false or misleading answers are given by many of them. Indirect questioning techniques offer a solution to this problem. These are techniques designed in such a way that the information provided by a participant is not incriminating and thus his/her privacy is protected. However, based on the information collected from all participants, the investigator is able to estimate parameters of interest related to the stigmatizing characteristic. In this talk, we present in an elementary way indirect questioning techniques, such as the randomized response model and the item count technique.
Biography:
Dr. Christofides is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Cyprus in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. His studies include a B.Sc. in Mathematics (University of Athens, 1983), an M.S.E in Mathematical Sciences (The Johns Hopkins University, USA, 1985) and a Ph.D. in Statistics (The Johns Hopkins University, USA, 1987). He worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the State University of New York at Binghamton (1987-1991) and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Cyprus (1991-2004). His research interests lie in the areas of Probability Inequalities, Demimartingales, Stochastic Orders, Survey Methodology and Indirect Questioning Techniques. He serves as an associate editor for several journals and he is also a member of the European Statistical Advisory Committee which is a consultative body of the European Union which contributes to the development and implementation of Community Statistical information policy.
When: Wednesday, January21st, 2015 at 16:00-17:00
Where: Room CY114 (First floor), UCLan Cyprus, Pyla CY-7080
