JPSM Inaugurates Distinguished Lecture Series
To kick off its new Distinguished Lecture Series, the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Maryland sponsored a talk by Chris Skinner on September 10. The talk discussed some issues arising in the analysis of data from surveys with complex sampling designs. In addition to summarizing the general approaches to modeling with complex survey data, the lecture considered of the impact of complex sampling on standard errors in certain kinds of longitudinal analyses. It presented evidence that such analyses could have very large design effects, illustrating the problem with data from the British Household Panel Survey. Two discussants, Keith Rust from Westat, Inc., and Barry Graubard from NCI, provided formal comments on the talk. In addition, there was lively discussion from the audience including comments by incoming ASA President Fritz Scheuren. A reception followed the lecture. The Distinguished Lecture Series was organized by a committee of JPSM faculty, headed by Graham Kalton.
Chris Skinner is Professor of Social Statistics at the University of Southampton, where he has worked since he completed his PhD there in 1982. Before then, he completed a first degree in Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and a Masters degree in Statistics at the London School of Economics. He has interests in statistical aspects of survey methodology and in statistical methods in the social sciences. He is Director of the U.K. Centre for Applied Social Surveys which runs courses on survey methodology and provides an online resource of survey questions. He is also Director of the new National Centre for Research Methods, which promotes development of and training in research methods in the social sciences. He has researched methodological aspects of government statistics, particularly though an ongoing cooperative project with the Office for National Statistics. His publications include co-editing books on Analysis of Complex Surveys (1989) with Tim Holt and Fred Smith and on Analysis of Survey Data (2003) with Ray Chambers.
The Joint Program in Survey Methodology offers graduate training in survey methodology and survey statistics, leading to Master’s and doctoral degrees. In addition, it offers certificate and citation programs for non-degree students. JPSM is funded by a consortium of federal agencies through a contract with the Census Bureau and receives additional funding through cost-sharing agreements with the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan, and Westat.
Chris Skinner, who delivered the first of JPSM’s Distinguished Lectures.
The speaker and discussants for JPSM’s September 10 Distinguished Lecture. From left to right, Barry Graubard, Chris Skinner, and Keith Rust.
