Vol: 34 Page: 241

Authors:
Marcin Kozak

Title:
 Method of multivariate sample allocation in agricultural surveys

Language: English

Keywords:
agricultural surveys
estimation in subpopulations
multivariate sample allocation
survey sampling

Summary:
Agricultural surveys conducted in Poland by Central Statistical Office aim to estimate many parameters. An optimal, (i.e. optimizing a precision of estimation), univariate sample allocation may not be optimal in a multivariate sense; hence there is a need for an allocation method in a case of multivariate surveys. Furthermore, in many surveys we are interested in estimation of the parameters of interest not only for a whole population, but also for some subpopulations. The sample allocation minimizing the maximal precision of an estimator from the midst of variables in the particular subpopulations, (e.g. provinces), is proposed in the paper. The method’s application is presented for data from the Agricultural Census 2002.