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Center for Global Democracy

 

  2. Sample Design

Sample Design

LAPOP Lab holds its surveys and studies to the highest standards of quality. Questionnaires are systematically pre-tested in-country; hand-held electronic systems (PDAs) are widely used to eliminate data collection and processing errors and to easily enable experimental treatments; sophisticated probability samples are designed and employed to ensure representative samples at the national and subnational levels; and, cutting-edge statistical methods are used in data analysis.

Through years of polling an expanding set of countries using sophisticated techniques, LAPOP Lab has developed a treasure trove of high quality data on political views within the Americas. The data are used by academic researchers; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in its efforts to promote democracy and good governance in Latin America and the Caribbean; the World Bank in its Governance Indicators series; the Inter-American Development Bank in its numerous research projects; the United Nations Development Programme and the Organization of American States in their democracy programs; and perhaps most significantly, by the governments of several Latin American countries as a source of independent information with which to assess public opinion and shape policy.

Each survey is implemented based on a national probability design. In some cases oversamples are collected to allow precise analysis of opinion within sub-national regions. Survey participants are voting-age adults interviewed face to face in their households, except in Canada and the United States where the interviews are Web-based.

Please note: 2023 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects; 2021 Technical Information; 2018/19 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects; 2016/2017 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects; 2014 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects  (en español); 2012 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects (en Español); and the 2010 AmericasBarometer Sample Design and Design Effects