Common use of Variance Estimation Clause in Contracts

Variance Estimation. To obtain estimates of variability (such as the standard error of sample estimates or corresponding confidence intervals) for estimates based on MEPS survey data, the complex sample design of MEPS for both person and family-level analyses must be taken into account. Various approaches can be used to develop such estimates of variance including use of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ series or replication methodologies. Replicate weights have not been developed for the MEPS 1998 data. Using a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Series approach, variance estimation strata and the variance estimation PSUs within these strata must be specified. The corresponding variables on the 1998 MEPS full year utilization database are VARSTR98 and VARPSU98, respectively. Specifying a “with replacement” design in a computer software package, such as SUDAAN, should provide standard errors appropriate for assessing the variability of MEPS survey estimates. It should be noted that the number of degrees of freedom associated with estimates of variability indicated by such a package may not appropriately reflect the actual number available. For MEPS sample estimates for characteristics generally distributed throughout the country (and thus the sample PSUs), there are over 100 degrees of freedom for the 1998 full year data associated with the corresponding estimates of variance.

Variance Estimation. To obtain estimates of variability (such as the standard error of sample estimates or corresponding confidence intervals) for estimates based on MEPS survey data, the complex sample design of MEPS for both person and family-family level analyses must be taken into account. Various approaches can be used to develop such estimates of variance including use of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ series or replication methodologies. Replicate weights have not been developed for the MEPS 1998 1997 data. Using a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Series approach, variance estimation strata and the variance estimation PSUs within these strata must be specified. The corresponding variables on the 1998 1997 MEPS full year utilization database are VARSTR98 VARSTR97 and VARPSU98VARPSU97, respectively. Specifying a “with replacement” design in a computer software package, such as SUDAAN, should provide standard errors appropriate for assessing the variability of MEPS survey estimates. It should be noted that the number of degrees of freedom associated with estimates of variability indicated by such a package may not appropriately reflect the actual number available. For MEPS sample estimates for characteristics generally distributed throughout the country (and thus the sample PSUs), there are over 100 degrees of freedom for the 1998 1997 full year data associated with the corresponding estimates of variance.

Variance Estimation. To obtain estimates of variability (such as the standard error of sample estimates or corresponding confidence intervals) for estimates based on MEPS survey data, the complex sample design of MEPS for both person and family-level analyses must be taken into account. Various approaches can be used to develop such estimates of variance including use of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ series or replication methodologies. Replicate weights have not been developed for the MEPS 1998 2000 data. Using a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Series approach, variance estimation strata and the variance estimation PSUs within these strata must be specified. The corresponding variables on the 1998 2000 MEPS full year utilization database data base are VARSTR98 VARSTR00 and VARPSU98VARPSU00, respectively. Specifying a “with replacement” design in a computer software package, such as SUDAAN, should provide standard errors appropriate for assessing the variability of MEPS survey estimates. It should be noted that the number of degrees of freedom associated with estimates of variability indicated by such a package may not appropriately reflect the actual number available. For MEPS sample estimates for characteristics generally distributed throughout the country (and thus the sample PSUs), there are over 100 one can expect at least 60 degrees of freedom for the 1998 2000 full year data associated with the corresponding estimates of variance.