How to apply statistical methods to survey data--a guide toeffective analysis of health surveys.

With large health surveys becoming increasingly available forpublic use, researchers with little experience in survey methodsare often faced with analyzing data from surveys to addressscientific and programmatic questions. This practical book providesstatistical techniques for use in survey analysis, making healthsurveys accessible to statisticians, biostatisticians,epidemiologists, and health researchers. The authors clearlyexplain the theory and methods of survey analysis along withreal-world applications. They draw on their work at the NationalInstitutes of Health as well as up-to-date information from acrossthe literature to present:
* The sampling background necessary to understand health surveys.
* The application of such techniques as t-tests, linear regression,logistic regression, and survival analysis to survey data.
* The use of sample weights in survey data analysis.
* Dealing with complications in variance estimation in large healthsurveys.
* Applications involving cross-sectional, longitudinal, andmultiple cross-sectional surveys, and the use of surveys to performpopulation- based case-control analyses.
* Guidance on the correct use of statistical methods found insoftware packages.
* Extensive bibliography.