Jewish Community Studies in the Twenty-First Century.

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Survey Methodology
• Jewish Studies

Background:

• Accurate demographic data is essential for effective community planning and resource allocation.
• Previous methodologies for surveying the Jewish population have faced challenges in coverage and potential bias.
• Understanding population size and behaviors informs national and local Jewish communal strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the effectiveness of state-of-the-art address-based sampling (ABS) in improving Jewish population estimates.
• To compare the results of ABS methodology with other traditional survey approaches.
• To highlight methodological improvements for increased coverage and reduced bias in population surveys.

Main Methods:

• Utilized current address-based sampling (ABS) methodology for two distinct studies: one national and one for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
• Implemented methodological improvements in sampling frame, data collection, nonresponse follow-up, and eligibility definition.
• Compared ABS results against traditional methodologies to assess impact on population estimates.

Main Results:

• Address-based sampling significantly increased coverage of the Jewish population in both studies.
• The ABS methodology demonstrated a notable reduction in survey bias compared to other methods.
• Improved data quality and more reliable population estimates were achieved.

Conclusions:

• State-of-the-art address-based sampling is a superior methodology for surveying the Jewish population.
• Methodological advancements in survey design are critical for accurate demographic research.
• Findings provide a more reliable basis for national and local Jewish communal planning.