total survey error.

The combined error arising across survey coverage, sampling, nonresponse, measurement, and processing.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• total survey error framework
• sources of total survey error
• reduce survey error

On the page

The report considered total survey error rather than treating the sampling margin as the whole story.

Usage notes

The framework treats error as arising at multiple stages; reducing sampling error alone does not guarantee better overall survey quality.