2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (5 years)
Strategic Priority
AFWA Priorities Identified in AFWA Funding Principles (submitted by ExCom) - National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Project Documents
Project Description
NORC is pleased to submit a proposal for the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies has already invested extensive resources to evaluate the best approach for the National Survey and to lay the groundwork for moving toward a sustainable model for the future. As our proposal will show, NORC is the best partner to build on that effort and help the Association reach that goal. Significant challenges and opportunities remain for the design of the National Survey, including providing precise estimates within a fixed budget, contending with declining response rates and avidity bias, and improving the accuracy of self-reports under difficult recall requirements. The foundation of our proposal is the AmeriSpeak® Panel, a probability-based, mixed-mode panel with an industry-leading population coverage and recruitment response rate. The AmeriSpeak Panel will be used for questionnaire design as well as an essential component of the main survey in 2022 to enable us to evaluate the impact of nonresponse, improve coverage of rural areas, and address avidity bias. To provide the level of precision required by the Association, we propose supplementing the AmeriSpeak Panel with an address-based sample with a push-to-web approach, followed by a self-administered paper questionnaire. For coastal states, we would also include a significant number of interviews from a non-probability sample, allowing us to provide precise estimates at the state level for a fraction of the cost of the probability sample. To address potential biases in the non-probability sample, we will employ TrueNorthTM, a new small-area estimation technique developed by NORC to combine probability and non-probability samples. This effective and affordable approach will also be offered to other states for purchase. Along with an innovative design and unique access to AmeriSpeak, NORC brings the necessary expertise in all aspects of project design, management, and execution to ensure the success of the 2022 National Survey. We have extensive experience managing large, complex surveys for government agencies and other clients. We have been a leader in designing, conducting, and analyzing mixed-mode surveys and efficiently using address-based samples. To confront the challenges of declining response rates and rising costs, NORC has been at the forefront of crafting effective strategies to institute adaptive designs and to combine probability and non-probability samples for estimation. We are well-versed in creating client deliverables that can be quickly digested and understood by key audiences and stakeholders. Our commitment to transparency and our experience providing public-use files means you can rely on us to thoroughly document our procedures and provide accurate files that are easy to use. Our broad range of expertise across the organization and our passion for continually innovating in research methodology means we are the perfect organization for conducting the National Survey today and into the future.
Project Facts
- Organization Name: NORC, University of Chicago
- Organization Status: Public Institution Of Higher Education
- State: Illinois
- Obligation: $7,422,105
- Start Date: 01-01-2020
- End Date: 12-31-2024
Results
In response to a Request for Proposals, NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) developed an innovative methodological approach for meeting the goals of the Survey Work Group. The new approach included:
- The implementation of mixed-mode approach where interviews are conducted via web, telephone, and self-administered paper questionnaires sent through the mail instead of costly in-person interviewing.
- A blended sample design that primarily uses AmeriSpeak®, NORC’s probability-based panel, and an address-based sample (ABS). These approaches were intended to provide full rural coverage, reduced avidity and nonresponse bias.
- The inclusion of samples from nonprobability online panels to provide a cost-effective approach for state-level data. NORC employed their TrueNorth capability to combine probability and nonprobability samples to create reliable estimates that meet the state-level precision requirements.
- Streamlining the questionnaire to focus on key estimates and reduce respondent burden.
- Funding from the Multistate Conservation Grant, authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Programs Improvement and National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act of 2000, as amended.
Data collection for the Survey was carried out in two phases by NORC. The first phase consisted of a screen interview. The screening interviews were conducted in January through April 2022. NORC interviewed a sample of 42,340 households nationwide. Through these interviews, one adult household member provided information for up to four adults ages 16 and older and up to four children ages 6 to 15 in the household. This interview covered participation in fishing, hunting, wildlife watching and other recreation activities in the year 2021 as well as expectations for participation
in 2022. Interviews were conducted via the web, telephone, and self-administered questionnaire. In total, data was collected for about 97,415 household members.
The second phase of data collection covered 2022 activities in detail and consisted of three detailed interview waves. The first wave was conducted May through August 2022. The second wave was conducted September through December 2022. The final wave was conducted January through March 2023. Interviews were conducted with samples of likely anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers who were identified in the initial screening phase. Interviews were conducted via the web, telephone, and self-administered questionnaire.
Respondents in the second survey phase were limited to those who were at least 16 years old. Each respondent provided information pertaining only to their activities and expenditures. Sample sizes were designed to provide statistically reliable results at the national level. During the second phase, 105,698 individuals completed any survey, including 24,720 who completed the angler survey, 11,655 who completed the hunter survey, 58,704 who completed the wildlife watching survey, and 10,619 who did not participate in any of the three activities and were not asked detailed questions about them.
