Sample Management

In survey research, sample management refers to the efforts that must be made to coordinate the processing of sampled cases during a survey's field period so as to achieve the highest possible response rates within the finite budget that is allocated for data collection. This requires the coordination of whatever software is used to help manage the sample by the person(s) doing the managing.

The person or persons charged with sample management typically do this on a daily basis throughout the field period. For smaller surveys that involve a few hundred cases, this might be done by one person who may also have responsibility for other supervisory tasks. This person may manage the sample manually. In very large surveys with thousands of cases (including some large ...