The Effect of Sample Structure on Analytical Surveys1,2

Summary The core of this paper is a dialogue between “Harry”, an experienced survey statistician and “Fred”, a young mathematical statistician. They have contrasting approaches to the problem of estimating a regression relationship from a stratified sample, but after one or two red herrings are dragged out, both realize that the situation is not as simple as they had supposed. The role played by the probabilities of selection is a central issue. Estimation sampling for means, totals, and ratios is also considered, and seen to be a special case of the general analytical sampling synthesis they had already agreed upon.