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LAPOP

LAPOP

 

  2. Sample Design

Sample Design

LAPOP 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 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.

AmericasBarometer uses this 2010 weighting scheme (en Español) for each year of surveys.

Please note: 2021 Technical Information; 2018/19 Americasbarometer Sample Desing 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