The Sampling Design of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS).

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Demography
• Sociology

Background:

• The China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) is a crucial ongoing, nationwide, longitudinal social survey.
• It aims to address diverse research needs concerning contemporary Chinese social phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the sampling design for the 2010 baseline survey of the CFPS.
• To outline the methods for constructing survey weights to correct for sampling design and nonresponse bias.

Main Methods:

• Employed a multi-stage probability sampling strategy.
• Utilized implicit stratification to improve sampling efficiency.
• Oversampled respondents in five key provinces for robust regional comparisons.

Main Results:

• Successfully implemented a complex sampling design for nationwide coverage.
• Developed and applied weighting methods to ensure data representativeness.
• Provided operational details for both sampling and weight construction.

Conclusions:

• The CFPS sampling and weighting methodology provides a reliable foundation for longitudinal social research in China.
• The design facilitates in-depth analysis of social dynamics across different regions.
• The study offers a replicable model for large-scale social surveys.