• Survey Methods Research

• Challenging Research Issues in Statistics and Survey Methodology at the BLS
• NSF BLS Fellowships
• Post Doctoral Research (PDF 84K)

As part of its outreach to the broader survey research community, the BLS Office of Survey Methods Research has established this web page to highlight some important and challenging research issues that arise in BLS work with statistics and survey methodology. More »

• Mixed-Mode Survey Design. What Are the Effects on Data Quality? (PDF 57K)
• Stability of Linearization-Based Variance Estimators Computed from Potentially Unstable Estimators of First Derivatives. (PDF 120K)
• Modeling, Estimation and Inference Issues that Arise from the Use of Response-Rate Goals in Survey Operations. (PDF 19K)
• Application of Sequential Design and Testing Methods and Adaptive Sampling Methods to the Design and Evaluation of Usability Tests. (PDF 11K)
• The Pros and Cons of Questions Containing Cue Lists. (PDF 116K)

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Statistical Survey Paper Collection

The Statistical Survey Papers series is a collection of statistical research papers maintained by the Office of Survey Methods Research. It contains papers written by BLS statisticians and behavioral scientists. Included are papers presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings and other conferences, as well as papers appearing in journals and the BLS Statistical Notes series. A sample of the papers follows. Click "More" for the complete list.

• An Evaluation of Different Design Options for Presenting Edit Messages in Web Forms
• A Proposed Estimation Procedure for CPS Gross Flows
• Use of Overlap Maximization in the Redesign of the National Compensation Survey
• A Method of Reconciling Discrepant National and Subnational Employment and Unemployment Estimates
• Modeling of Survey Response Rates and Reporting Rates in the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Interview
• More »

Current Population Survey Redesign Bibliography

In January of 1994, a completely redesigned Current Population Survey (CPS) was put into full scale production use. Eight years of planning and extensive research led up to this transition from the old survey to the new survey, which also utilizes computer assisted data collection methods. This bibliography, maintained by the Office of Survey Methods Research, is a collection of research papers written by BLS and Census Bureau statisticians and behavioral scientists on all phases of the redesign of the CPS.

Economic Working Paper Collection

The BLS Economic Working Paper Series is a collection of research papers authored by senior economists within various offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This series is maintained by the Office of Employment Research and Program Development, the Compensation Research and Program Development Group, and the Division of Price and Index Number Research. The purpose of the BLS Working Paper Series is to circulate research findings to interested readers within and outside the BLS as a means of encouraging discussion prior to publication in academic journals. A sample of the papers follows. Click "More" for the complete list.

• Are Traditional Retirements a Thing of the Past? New Evidence on Retirement Patterns and Bridge Jobs
• Proposed Category System for 1960-2000 Census Occupations
• Why Are Jobs Designed the Way They Are?
• Economic Well-Being Based on Income, Consumer Expenditures and Personal Assessments of Minimal Needs
• A Comparison of Income, Expenditures, and Home Market Value Distributions Using Luxembourg Income Study Data from the 1990's
• More »

National Longitudinal Surveys Discussion Papers

Since the late 1960s, the National Longitudinal Surveys have served as a rich source of data for researchers in a broad range of disciplines. Periodically, NLS staff locates aspects of NLS data that has not yet been fully explored. External researchers and organizations whose projects further the mission of the NLS program to conduct sound, legitimate research in the social sciences are then funded through the BLS Grants Program to perform ongoing analyses of data from the NLS. Their results are published in the NLS Discussion Paper series. This series is maintained by the National Longitudinal Surveys Program within the Office of Employment Research and Program Development.