Overview
History
The Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (CSSM) came into existence as the Survey Section of the Statistical Laboratory in 1938 as a result of a cooperative agreement between the Statistical Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Initial work under this agreement led to the development of the Master Sample of Agriculture, a national area sample of land which was subsequently utilized in numerous economic surveys of American agriculture. Research was also conducted that provided the foundation for area sampling methods and statistical estimation for sample surveys.
Mission
CSSM has continued to develop expertise in the technical and operational aspects of sample surveys. The current mission of CSSM is:
- To conduct research in the area of survey sample design, estimation, and data analysis.
- To teach academic courses in survey sampling and topics related to survey statistics.
- To provide support and operational services in the areas of design and selection of samples, construction of questionnaires and related forms, data collection, data processing, estimation, and analysis.
Statistical Research
Faculty, students, and staff are involved in statistical research agreements with a variety of federal agencies, including USDA agencies, the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Science Foundation.
Survey Research Services
Survey Research Services staff provide consulting and direct operational assistance in all aspects of sample surveys involving human populations. The group provides services such as design and selection of samples, construction of questionnaires and related forms, data collection, data processing, and data summarization.
National Resources Inventory
CSSM also has considerable expertise in conducting natural resource surveys. Since 1956, CSSM has cooperated with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly the Soil Conservation Service) to develop survey methods and provide operational support for the National Resources Inventory, a longitudinal survey of agricultural and other natural resources on nonfederal lands. Results from these surveys are used extensively in the construction of Farm Bills in the U.S.
Software
CSSM personnel have developed the software programs PC CARP, for analyzing surveys with complex designs, and EV CARP, for estimating measurement error models, in collaboration with the Census Bureau. Software for estimating dietary intake distributions, SIDE has been developed in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
