Survey sampling and multiple stratifications

Abstract

In survey sampling, stratied random sampling and post-stratification can increase the precision of estimation. In some cases, however, there may be multiple ways to stratify a population. We present a method, based on a non-informative Bayesian approach, that uses a finite mixture model to incorporate information from each stratification into estimation. This approach works well when the response variable is categorical or discrete,and for some non-response types of problems. We provide the theoretical basis for our method, present some simulation results, discuss various extensions, and define some software that implements the method.