B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
UPDATE 2/21/2024: Document has been updated to include the Reserve population on the SFIS.
If the collection of information employs statistical methods, it should be indicated in Item 17 of OMB Form 83-I, and the following information should be provided in this Supporting Statement:
1. Description of the Activity
The population of interest for the Spouse and Family Issues Survey (SFIS) consists of spouses of active duty and Reserve members from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force who are below flag rank. In addition, for the spouse to remain eligible for the survey, they must indicate they are currently married to an active duty or Reserve member at the time of the survey. Attachments A and B contain tables with the number of individuals in the population and sample by strata. The expected weighted response rate for this survey is 20%.
2. Procedures for the Collection of Information
a. Statistical methodologies for stratification and sample selection:
As described above, OPA uses a sampling tool developed by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to determine the sample size needed to achieve 95% confidence and an associated precision of 5% or less on each reporting category domains. We select a single-stage, non-proportional stratified random sample to ensure a statistically adequate expected number of responses for the reporting domains. For the SFIS, OPA uses Service, paygrade, gender, and family status to define the initial strata. We collapse these strata when there are fewer than 200 individuals in the stratum. Once OPA determines the stratum-level sample sizes, a random number is assigned to every member of the population and the population is sorted by stratum and random number prior to sampling, which results in a randomly-ordered population within each stratum. We then select the appropriate number of spouses from each stratum.
b. Estimation procedures:
OPA weights the eligible respondents in order to make inferences about the entire population of active duty and Reserve spouses. The weighting methodology utilizes standard weighting processes. First, we assign a base weight to the sampled member based on the reciprocal of the selection probability. Second, OPA uses 20-30 administrative variables in the XGBoost application of Generalized Boosted Model (GBM) to predict survey eligibility and completion. OPA’s accurate and detailed administrative data on both survey respondents and non-respondents provides confidence in our survey estimates. We adjust the sampling weights and then all prior-stage weights by the inverse of these model-predicted probabilities to adjust for nonresponse. Finally, we rake these adjusted weights to known population totals to further reduce the variance and bias of the estimates.
c. Degree of accuracy needed for the Purpose discussed in the justification:
OPA forms variance strata by collapsing sampling strata to achieve about 50 respondents within each variance stratum. OPA computes variance estimates within variance strata so precision measures can be associated with each estimate. We produce precision measures for reporting categories using 95% confidence intervals with the goal of achieving a precision of 5% or less (e.g., 80% (+/- 5%) of spouses of Army E1-E4 are satisfied with their job).
d. Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures:
OPA recognizes the response rates vary for certain domains of interest such as Service and paygrade. To account for this, we will average the response rates for the last three Active Duty and Reserve Spouse Surveys (same population as the SFIS) at the stratum level and use these response rates in the sampling tool to create the SFIS sample and compute expected numbers of respondents within domains of interest.
e. Use of periodic or cyclical data collections to reduce respondent burden:
This is the first administration of the SFIS. There aren’t any surveys within the DoD that assess the issues on this survey.
3. Maximization of Response Rates, Non-response, and Reliability
To maximize response rates, OPA offers the survey via the Web and provides a paper survey option. Reminder letters and emails to non-respondents are used to maximize response rates. To reduce respondent burden, web-based surveys use “smart skip” technology to ensure respondents only answer questions that are applicable to them. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of responses, OPA conducts nonresponse adjustments as part of the weighting process. The results for the 2021 Active Duty Spouse Survey and 2023 Reserve Component Spouse Survey are useful in that the response expectations and survey methodology mirror the SFIS. Nonresponse adjustments are contained in the 2019 ADSS Statistical Methodology Report and are available on request: Office of People Analytics. (August 2020). 2019 Survey of Active Duty Spouses: Statistical Methodology Report. (OPA Report No. 2020-050). Alexandria, VA.
To increase response rates, individual QR codes will be included on
the postal letters, offering a quick mechanism for respondents to
access and complete the survey via their mobile device.
4. Tests of Procedures
Not applicable
5. Statistical Consultation and Information Analysis
a. Provide names and telephone number of individual(s) consulted on statistical aspects of the design.
Dr. Matthew Scheidt, Team Lead; Statistical Methods Team, Methods, Analysis, and Systems Support, Office of People Analytics (OPA); matthew.s.scheidt.civ@mail.mil.
b. Provide name and organization of person(s) who will actually collect and analyze the collected information.
The data will be collected by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), which is OPA’s operations contractor. Ms. Valerie Waller is the Senior Managing Director at DRC.
The data will be analyzed by OPA analysts. Monica Wiedemann, Robin Myers, and contractors Jason Haynes, and Amy Campbell are the lead operations analysts.
Attachment A. 2023 ADSS - Population and Sample Size by Strata
Stratum |
Stratum Definitions |
Population Size |
Sample Size |
All |
Total |
636,399 |
65,000 |
1 |
001 ARMY__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
19926 |
2839 |
2 |
002 ARMY__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
20694 |
2810 |
3 |
003 ARMY__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
3804 |
655 |
4 |
004 ARMY__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
6301 |
1101 |
5 |
005 ARMY__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
49814 |
3072 |
6 |
006 ARMY__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
22550 |
1359 |
7 |
007 ARMY__E5-E6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
5319 |
395 |
8 |
008 ARMY__E5-E6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
4925 |
398 |
9 |
009 ARMY__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
31309 |
2374 |
10 |
010 ARMY__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
6924 |
514 |
11 |
011 ARMY__E7-E9__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
2404 |
223 |
12 |
012 ARMY__E7-E9__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1162 |
104 |
13 |
013 ARMY__W1-W5+W0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
9070 |
424 |
14 |
014 ARMY__W1-W5+W0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
2260 |
106 |
15 |
015 ARMY__W1-W5+W0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
545 |
29 |
16 |
016 ARMY__W1-W5+W0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
308 |
21 |
17 |
017 ARMY__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
11452 |
1038 |
18 |
018 ARMY__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
7424 |
650 |
19 |
019 ARMY__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1751 |
189 |
20 |
020 ARMY__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
2686 |
271 |
21 |
021 ARMY__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
17317 |
1077 |
22 |
022 ARMY__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
3930 |
239 |
23 |
023 ARMY__O4-O6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
2332 |
169 |
24 |
024 ARMY__O4-O6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1175 |
81 |
25 |
025 NAVY__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
6820 |
1393 |
26 |
026 NAVY__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
15766 |
3027 |
27 |
027 NAVY__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
2381 |
597 |
28 |
028 NAVY__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
6149 |
1568 |
29 |
029 NAVY__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
36721 |
1942 |
30 |
030 NAVY__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
20859 |
1060 |
31 |
031 NAVY__E5-E6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
5581 |
360 |
32 |
032 NAVY__E5-E6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
5688 |
359 |
33 |
033 NAVY__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
19466 |
2268 |
34 |
034 NAVY__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
3430 |
389 |
35 |
035 NAVY__E7-E9__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1691 |
246 |
36 |
036 NAVY__E7-E9__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
699 |
97 |
37 |
037 NAVY__W1-W5+W0__MALE+FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1461 |
67 |
38 |
038 NAVY__W1-W5+W0__MALE+FEMALE__MarNoChild |
280 |
12 |
39 |
039 NAVY__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
7239 |
804 |
40 |
040 NAVY__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
5628 |
593 |
41 |
041 NAVY__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1205 |
161 |
42 |
042 NAVY__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1955 |
241 |
43 |
043 NAVY__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
12173 |
1024 |
44 |
044 NAVY__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
2636 |
218 |
45 |
045 NAVY__O4-O6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1653 |
164 |
46 |
046 NAVY__O4-O6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
811 |
81 |
47 |
047 USMC__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
4101 |
1428 |
48 |
048 USMC__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
13382 |
4281 |
49 |
049 USMC__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
443 |
237 |
50 |
050 USMC__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1973 |
824 |
51 |
051 USMC__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
12156 |
2569 |
52 |
052 USMC__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
8404 |
1718 |
53 |
053 USMC__E5-E6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
928 |
245 |
54 |
054 USMC__E5-E6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1161 |
295 |
55 |
055 USMC__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
9514 |
2850 |
56 |
056 USMC__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
1256 |
369 |
57 |
057 USMC__E7-E9__FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
597 |
212 |
58 |
058 USMC__W1-W5+W0__MALE+FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
1995 |
317 |
59 |
059 USMC__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
2875 |
899 |
60 |
060 USMC__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
2763 |
823 |
61 |
061 USMC__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
557 |
192 |
62 |
062 USMC__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
4761 |
1303 |
63 |
063 USMC__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
803 |
213 |
64 |
064 USMC__O4-O6__FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
307 |
96 |
65 |
065 USAF__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
9862 |
1403 |
66 |
066 USAF__E1-E4+E0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
17867 |
2412 |
67 |
067 USAF__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
2534 |
441 |
68 |
068 USAF__E1-E4+E0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
7080 |
1115 |
69 |
069 USAF__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
35077 |
2012 |
70 |
070 USAF__E5-E6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
17976 |
988 |
71 |
071 USAF__E5-E6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
5458 |
378 |
72 |
072 USAF__E5-E6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
5181 |
330 |
73 |
073 USAF__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
18141 |
1851 |
74 |
074 USAF__E7-E9__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
3396 |
334 |
75 |
075 USAF__E7-E9__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
3252 |
390 |
76 |
076 USAF__E7-E9__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1223 |
138 |
77 |
077 USAF__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
7219 |
610 |
78 |
078 USAF__O1-O3+O0__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
6860 |
552 |
79 |
079 USAF__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1410 |
139 |
80 |
080 USAF__O1-O3+O0__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
2894 |
265 |
81 |
081 USAF__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__Mar+Child |
15043 |
941 |
82 |
082 USAF__O4-O6__MALE+UNK__MarNoChild |
3266 |
196 |
83 |
083 USAF__O4-O6__FEMALE__Mar+Child |
2683 |
191 |
84 |
084 USAF__O4-O6__FEMALE__MarNoChild |
1343 |
95 |
85 |
085 USSF__E1-E4+E0__MALE+FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
470 |
470 |
86 |
086 USSF__E5-E6__MALE+FEMALE__Mar+Child |
649 |
649 |
87 |
087 USSF__E5-E6__MALE+FEMALE__MarNoChild |
452 |
452 |
88 |
088 USSF__E7-E9__MALE+FEMALE__MarChild+NoChild |
615 |
615 |
89 |
089 USSF__O1-O3+O0__MALE+FEMALE__Mar+Child |
499 |
499 |
90 |
090 USSF__O1-O3+O0__MALE+FEMALE__MarNoChild |
582 |
582 |
91 |
091 USSF__O4-O6__MALE+FEMALE__Mar+Child |
1395 |
1395 |
92 |
092 USSF__O4-O6__MALE+FEMALE__MarNoChild |
322 |
322 |
Attachment B. 2023 RCSS – Estimated Population and Sample Size by Strata
Stratum |
Stratum Definitions |
Population Size |
Sample Size |
All |
Total |
351,038 |
65,000 |
1 |
001 ARMYNG_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
14,511 |
2,317 |
2 |
002 ARMYNG_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
8,224 |
1,274 |
3 |
003 ARMYNG_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
2,175 |
492 |
4 |
004 ARMYNG_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
2,072 |
388 |
5 |
005 ARMYNG_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
51,029 |
3,174 |
6 |
006 ARMYNG_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
12,940 |
861 |
7 |
007 ARMYNG_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
4,956 |
371 |
8 |
008 ARMYNG_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
2,223 |
160 |
9 |
009 ARMYNG_W1-W5_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
4,749 |
378 |
10 |
010 ARMYNG_W1-W5_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,368 |
112 |
11 |
011 ARMYNG_W1-W5_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
459 |
35 |
12 |
012 ARMYNG_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
7,892 |
1,206 |
13 |
013 ARMYNG_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
3,084 |
460 |
14 |
014 ARMYNG_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
916 |
163 |
15 |
015 ARMYNG_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
756 |
139 |
16 |
016 ARMYNG_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
7,586 |
1,304 |
17 |
017 ARMYNG_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,253 |
216 |
18 |
018 ARMYNG_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
925 |
182 |
19 |
019 ARMYR_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
8,573 |
2,019 |
20 |
020 ARMYR_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
6,061 |
1,386 |
21 |
021 ARMYR_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
2,104 |
575 |
22 |
022 ARMYR_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
2,328 |
630 |
23 |
023 ARMYR_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
28,154 |
4,128 |
24 |
024 ARMYR_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
8,365 |
1,319 |
25 |
025 ARMYR_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
4,558 |
820 |
26 |
026 ARMYR_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
2,277 |
376 |
27 |
027 ARMYR_W1-W5_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,803 |
483 |
28 |
028 ARMYR_W1-W5_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
542 |
152 |
29 |
029 ARMYR_W1-W5_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
327 |
90 |
30 |
030 ARMYR_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
5,085 |
1,103 |
31 |
031 ARMYR_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
2,384 |
429 |
32 |
032 ARMYR_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,322 |
370 |
33 |
033 ARMYR_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,147 |
208 |
34 |
034 ARMYR_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
8,166 |
2,862 |
35 |
035 ARMYR_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,755 |
620 |
36 |
036 ARMYR_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,365 |
607 |
37 |
037 ARMYR_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
672 |
293 |
38 |
038 NAVYR_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,316 |
1,316 |
39 |
039 NAVYR_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,172 |
1,172 |
40 |
040 NAVYR_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
467 |
467 |
41 |
041 NAVYR_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
479 |
479 |
42 |
042 NAVYR_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
11,210 |
1,565 |
43 |
043 NAVYR_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
3,601 |
499 |
44 |
044 NAVYR_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
2,287 |
358 |
45 |
045 NAVYR_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,165 |
217 |
46 |
046 NAVYR_W1-O3_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,758 |
996 |
47 |
047 NAVYR_W1-O3_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
687 |
394 |
48 |
048 NAVYR_W1-O3_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
566 |
359 |
49 |
049 NAVYR_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
5,368 |
1,226 |
50 |
050 NAVYR_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,175 |
243 |
51 |
051 NAVYR_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
690 |
156 |
52 |
052 NAVYR_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
321 |
61 |
53 |
053 MCRES_E1-E4_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
796 |
464 |
54 |
054 MCRES_E1-E4_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,691 |
983 |
55 |
055 MCRES_E5-E9_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
3,322 |
2,605 |
56 |
056 MCRES_E5-E9_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,315 |
941 |
57 |
057 MCRES_W1-O3_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
689 |
494 |
58 |
058 MCRES_W1-O3_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
406 |
239 |
59 |
059 MCRES_O4-O6_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,708 |
1,570 |
60 |
060 MCRES_O4-O6_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
359 |
327 |
61 |
061 AIRNG_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
2,588 |
1,214 |
62 |
062 AIRNG_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,884 |
998 |
63 |
063 AIRNG_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
670 |
422 |
64 |
064 AIRNG_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
861 |
533 |
65 |
065 AIRNG_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
25,710 |
2,022 |
66 |
066 AIRNG_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
7,995 |
663 |
67 |
067 AIRNG_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
4,490 |
360 |
68 |
068 AIRNG_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,821 |
148 |
69 |
069 AIRNG_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
2,365 |
968 |
70 |
070 AIRNG_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
718 |
283 |
71 |
071 AIRNG_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
535 |
244 |
72 |
072 AIRNG_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
338 |
153 |
73 |
073 AIRNG_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
5,815 |
1,206 |
74 |
074 AIRNG_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
892 |
177 |
75 |
075 AIRNG_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
1,111 |
245 |
76 |
076 AFRES_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,677 |
1,556 |
77 |
077 AFRES_E1-E4_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,161 |
1,037 |
78 |
078 AFRES_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
559 |
559 |
79 |
079 AFRES_E1-E4_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
641 |
641 |
80 |
080 AFRES_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
13,616 |
4,735 |
81 |
081 AFRES_E5-E9_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
4,034 |
1,329 |
82 |
082 AFRES_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
3,180 |
1,561 |
83 |
083 AFRES_E5-E9_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
1,489 |
760 |
84 |
084 AFRES_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,139 |
847 |
85 |
085 AFRES_O1-O3_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
432 |
319 |
86 |
086 AFRES_O1-O3_FEMALE_MARRIED_CHILD_NOCHILD |
663 |
566 |
87 |
087 AFRES_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_CHILD |
5,268 |
3,140 |
88 |
088 AFRES_O4-O6_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
897 |
520 |
89 |
089 AFRES_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD |
1,350 |
887 |
90 |
090 AFRES_O4-O6_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD |
485 |
334 |
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
Author | Patricia Toppings |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2024-07-25 |