Evaluation of Direct Variance Estimation, Estimate Reliability, and Confidence Intervals for the National Crime Victimization Survey

• NCJ Number: 249242
• Author(s): Rick Williams, Ph.D., RTI International; David Heller, M.S., RTI International; Lance Couzens, RTI International; Bonnie E. Shook-Sa, M.A.S., RTI International; Marcus Berzofsky, DrPH, RTI International; Hope Smiley-McDonald, Ph.D., RTI International; Christopher Krebs, Ph.D., RTI International
• Date Published: December 2015
• Publication Type: Publication

Annotation

Examines the feasibility of using direct variance estimation for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).

Abstract

Examines the feasibility of using direct variance estimation for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). It compares generalized variance function (GVF) estimates to two direct variance estimation methods (Taylor Series Linearization and Balanced Repeated Replication). It also provides recommendations for calculating confidence intervals and identifying unstable estimates. A companion user's guide has been developed to describe how to implement the direct variance techniques detailed in this report using different software packages. Access to GVF User's Guides and other documentation is available online.