The National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS)—an independent research organization that helps catalyze industry, government, and academia to work on complex statistical research problems—along with the U.S. Census Bureau, RTI International, and Westat, held the 8th annual International Total Survey Error Workshop (ITSEW) in Washington, DC, October 1–3 at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Conference Center. The theme of the 2014 workshop was “Total Survey Error: Fundamentals and Frontiers.”

Scott Fricker participates in the ITSEW conference.

The gathering fostered an exchange of ideas and preliminary research findings toward a better understanding of total survey error. Participants shared ideas, received valuable feedback, identified opportunities for collaboration, and planned sessions or joint presentations for the 2015 International Total Survey Error Conference (TSE2015), to be held September 19–22 in Baltimore, Maryland.

On the first day of ITSEW, Paul Biemer of RTI International and The University of North Carolina presented a short course titled Total Survey Error Paradigm in Practice. This was an opportunity to become familiar with this perspective on survey methodology or learn about the state of current research and how it can be applied in practical survey situations.

Paul Biemer of RTI International presented a short course titled Total Survey Error Paradigm in Practice.

The following two days featured presentations and posters exhibiting current research on multiple error sources and their interactions, including design trade-offs, minimization strategies, estimation and analysis issues, and methods for presenting and visualizing TSE results.

Approximately 70 people attended the event. All the presentations are available on the NISS website.