Designing and Implementing the National Organizations Study

This article reports sampling and data collection procedures for a national sample of work organizations. The sampling unit was establishments, which were drawn with probability proportionate to size. About half of the establishments were parts of larger organizations. Data were collected from 52% of the establishments that fell into the sample and from 64.5% of eligible establishments for which adequate identifying information exisited. The current sample is based on the 1991 NORC General Society Survey. In connection with a 15-minute module on experiences with employers, respondents were asked to give the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of their employers and the employers of their spouses. The information was transmitted to the Survey Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, from which telephone interviews were conducted with informants on the sampled establishments. This article discusses results of the data collection process, including success of requests for nominations and the disposition of interview attempts with establishments. It concludes with suggestions for improvements in data collection procedures.