BJS FY 2010 Visiting Fellow: National Crime Victimization Survey Redesign

In 2007, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) sponsored an expert panel study by The National Research Council of the National Academies of Science to examine the range of programs at BJS, assess gaps in substantive coverage, and make recommendations for BJS' priorities for data collection (Groves & Cork, 2008). BJS requested that the panel begin its work by reviewing the NCVS's methodology and providing guidelines for redesign options in conducting the NCVS. In discussing overall goals and design considerations in its interim report, the panel stressed that BJS should carefully study potential changes in study design before incorporating them. BJS's current solicitation for methodological research to support the redesign of the NCVS is based on panel recommendations.
Under this award, Lynn Addington will develop a the optimal way to implement a modular design for the Crime Incident Report to be used in the redesigned NCVS. This project will focus on finding a modular design that will best balance respondent burden and statistical precision. Lynn Addington will examine different methods to determine the right modular design for the NCVS incident form. CA/NCF