Solved – Introductory graduate-level survey sampling textbook

referencessampling

I've already seen this.

For someone who has a mathematical mindset and is starting a graduate program in stats, what is a good text on survey sampling? If it comes with R code samples, that would be a plus.

I have absolutely no background in survey sampling other than knowing what a SRS is (so I don't know if knowing calculus-based statistics and/or having a mathematical mindset helps), and if I need to use those texts above, I can use them and delete this question.

Best Answer

Sampling: Design and Analysis by Sharon Lohr (quoted in your link) is probably the easiest book. Thomas Lumley's "Survey analysis in R" is even easier, but it doesn't show you the theories.

To judge whether you're ok to read the book by Lohr, do you know?

  • Sample mean vs Population mean?
  • Central limit theorem?
  • Normal distribution?
  • Variance vs standard deviation?

If you don't, you should start off by reading a general statistic book. If you do, start reading the Lohr book!

The Kish book is a classic but old. Not really suitable for beginners. It goes into the theory deeper than the other two books I mention. However, I don't like the notation and the book doesn't explain the concepts as clear as Lohr.