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Information and help
are readily available for researchers new to analysis of survey
data, as well as for experienced researchers with sophisticated
questions related to survey design and methods. Comprehensive
documentation on survey Web sites and articles in the peer reviewed
literature provide information about survey design and methodology,
workshops, listservs and email contacts.
MEPS provides a good example of the wide array of resources available
for researchers. For example, the AHRQ MEPS Web site includes
a series of fact
sheets along with frequently asked questions about the survey.
AHRQ also sponsors data users workshops
in different locations and at meetings of professional societies
for researchers interested in conducting studies using survey
data. The workbook for the workshop is also available online.
MEPS also maintains a listserv. A link on the Web site is available
for those interested in joining, and questions posted on this
listserv are answered both by MEPS staff and by other researchers
working with MEPS data.
ResDAC,
the Research Data Assistance Center, a consortium supported by
CMS, facilitates the use of CMS data, including the MCBS, by researchers.
Questions may be asked via a Web
interface or email. Similar resources are available for other
publicly available nationally representative surveys. For example,
resources for analyzing the surveys conducted by the National
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), such as the National Health
Interview Survey (NHIS) and the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES), can be accessed from the NCHS
Web site.
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