Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Data

Data Quality: 2011

Nonsampling Error

Although every effort is made in all phases of collection, processing, and tabulation to minimize errors, the survey is subject to nonsampling errors such as the inability to obtain data for every variable for all units in the sample, inaccuracies in classification, response errors, misinterpretation of questions, mistakes in keying and coding, and coverage errors.

Overall Unit Response Rate

The overall response rate to the Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State- and Locally-Administered Defined Benefit Data was 70.1 percent. The response rate was calculated as the number of responses received divided by the number of parent governments mailed minus the number of governments that were determined to be out of scope.

Total Quantity Response Rate

The total quantity response rate to the Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State- and Locally-Administered Defined Benefit Data was 98.6 percent. The total quantity response rate was calculated as the value of “total holdings and investments” (Z81) reported divided by the estimated total value of “total holdings and investments” of those units mailed minus those systems that were determined to be out of scope.TQRR information is available for the following years: 2007 [XLS, 29KB], 2008 [XLS, 29KB], 2009 [XLS, 29KB], 2010 [XLS, 29KB], and 2011 [XLS, 29KB].

For further information, please refer to the 2011 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State- and Locally-Administered Defined Benefit 2011 Survey Methodology.[PDF, 124KB]