Evaluating the Master Address File—Auxiliary Reference file (MAF-ARF) as a Potential Respondent Retention Source

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Working Paper Number: CARRA-18-12

Abstract

Using administrative records in survey operations can potentially improve data accuracy and survey operations. In this study, we link administrative data on residential location from the Master Address File-Auxiliary Reference File (MAF-ARF) dataset to the National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) to understand the alignment of this administrative records (AR) information with respondent collected data. The agreement rate for both sources reporting the same address varies from around 85 percent in 2011 to less than 60 percent in 2015. Between the 2010 and 2013 surveys, the MAF-ARF predicts just over half (54.54 percent) of non-returning respondents did not move from their initially reported address, suggesting that respondent refusals to continue participation as opposed to inability to locate them may be more important for understanding unit non-response.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021