Skip to main content

Quantity Versus Quality: A Survey Experiment to Improve the Network Scale-up Method

Author(s): Feehan, Dennis M; Umubyeyi, Aline; Mahy, Mary; Hladik, Wolfgang; Salganik, Matthew J

Download
To refer to this page use: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr1np5x
Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorFeehan, Dennis M-
dc.contributor.authorUmubyeyi, Aline-
dc.contributor.authorMahy, Mary-
dc.contributor.authorHladik, Wolfgang-
dc.contributor.authorSalganik, Matthew J-
dc.date.accessioned2016-10-17T14:14:49Z-
dc.date.available2016-10-17T14:14:49Z-
dc.date.issued2016-04-15en_US
dc.identifier.citationFeehan, Dennis M, Umubyeyi, Aline, Mahy, Mary, Hladik, Wolfgang, Salganik, Matthew J. "Quantity Versus Quality: A Survey Experiment to Improve the Network Scale-up Method" American Journal of Epidemiology, (8), 183, 747 - 757, doi:10.1093/aje/kwv287en_US
dc.identifier.issn0002-9262-
dc.identifier.urihttp://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr1np5x-
dc.description.abstractThe network scale-up method is a promising technique that uses sampled social network data to estimate the sizes of epidemiologically important hidden populations, such as sex workers and people who inject illicit drugs. Although previous scale-up research has focused exclusively on networks of acquaintances, we show that the type of personal network about which survey respondents are asked to report is a potentially crucial parameter that researchers are free to vary. This generalization leads to a method that is more flexible and potentially more accurate. In 2011, we conducted a large, nationally representative survey experiment in Rwanda that randomized respondents to report about one of 2 different personal networks. Our results showed that asking respondents for less information can, somewhat surprisingly, produce more accurate size estimates. We also estimated the sizes of 4 key populations at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection in Rwanda. Our estimates were higher than earlier estimates from Rwanda but lower than international benchmarks. Finally, in this article we develop a new sensitivity analysis framework and use it to assess the possible biases in our estimates. Our design can be customized and extended for other settings, enabling researchers to continue to improve the network scale-up method.en_US
dc.format.extent747 - 757en_US
dc.relation.ispartofAmerican Journal of Epidemiologyen_US
dc.rightsThis is the publisher’s version of the article (version of record). All rights reserved to the publisher. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.en_US
dc.titleQuantity Versus Quality: A Survey Experiment to Improve the Network Scale-up Methoden_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.identifier.doidoi:10.1093/aje/kwv287-
dc.date.eissued2016-03-24en_US
dc.identifier.eissn1476-6256-

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
OAQuality.pdf399.47 kBAdobe PDFView/Download


Items in OAR@Princeton are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.