Recent Advances on Estimating Population Size with Link-Tracing Sampling

TL;DR

This paper introduces an advanced method for estimating population size using stratified link-tracing sampling, accommodating heterogeneity, and demonstrating its effectiveness on a hard-to-reach networked population.

Contribution

It extends existing link-tracing estimators to handle heterogeneity in initial sampling, enhancing accuracy for complex populations.

Findings

Effective estimation demonstrated on a hard-to-reach networked population

Rao-Blackwell estimators improve precision of population size estimates

Method shows potential for application in diverse networked populations

Abstract

A new approach to estimate population size based on a stratified link-tracing sampling design is presented. The method extends on the Frank and Snijders (1994) approach by allowing for heterogeneity in the initial sample selection procedure. Rao-Blackwell estimators and corresponding resampling approximations similar to that detailed in Vincent and Thompson (2017) are explored. An empirical application is provided for a hard-to-reach networked population. The results demonstrate that the approach has much potential for application to such populations. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.