The driver's license list as a population-based sampling frame in Iowa

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Demography
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Driver's license lists are rarely utilized for population-based sampling due to concerns about incomplete coverage.
• Previous research has not extensively validated the representativeness of these lists for demographic studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the population coverage and representativeness of the 1990 Iowa driver's license list.
• To compare driver's license list data with 1990 census data across various demographic factors.

Main Methods:

• The 1990 Iowa driver's license list was cross-referenced with the 1990 U.S. Census data.
• Coverage was analyzed by 5-year age groups, sex, resident county, and urbanicity.

Main Results:

• Driver's license list coverage exceeded 90% for men aged 15-74 and women aged 15-64.
• Coverage demonstrated uniformity across different counties and urbanicity levels within these age groups.
• The lists were found to be convenient, cost-effective, and representative for adults aged 25-64 in Iowa.

Conclusions:

• The Iowa driver's license list is a potentially valuable and representative sampling frame for population research in specific age groups.
• Further investigation is warranted to confirm the representativeness of driver's license lists in other regions and for other variables.