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Statistical theory of sample survey design and analysis
Book Reviews
201
tied and corrected in places, the whole would have been a useful, short, introduction to quantitative methods in economics for economists who know no regression and have a grasp of matrix algebra. However, with its present faults, it is difficult to see to what audience it can be recommended. R.J. O’Brien University of Southampton
H.S. Konijn, Statistical Theory of Sample Survey Design and Analysis Amsterdam, 1974) pp. xv+429, $32.50.
(North-Holland,
The forward states that this book is ‘directed both to professionals and to students,. . . (and) aimed at presenting the theory of sampling surveys as a bridge between the most elementary introduction to probability and statistics on the one hand, and the more sophisticated and abstract uses of probability in statistical inference on the other’ from the pedagogical viewpoint. It consists of the following twelvechapters: Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
I II IIA III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Introduction, Simple random sampling (including simple cluster sampling), Ratio and related estimators in simple random sampling (further results), Stratified sampling, Sampling with replacement and utilization of distinct units only, Selection of sampling units, Sampling with unequal probabilities, Cluster sampling, The use of models, Systematic random sampling, Nonsampling errors, Repeated surveys, Some remarks on analytic uses of surveys.
Further, a quide, Uses of the book for various courses of study, and author and subject indices are included. The various concepts, formulae, and theorems are clearly stated and explained in lecture format, with simple and suitable examples which aid the readers’ understanding. Many footnotes appear which fill some gaps and add brief descriptions (e.g., in the central limit theorem, optimum stratification) for professional readers. The first aim of the book - ‘being directed both to professionals and students’ - is accomplished nearly perfectly throughout the text. The second aim - ‘presenting the theory of sampling surveys as a bridge between the most elementary introduction. . .‘- however, needs some revision and addition of points and descriptions in order to make the bridge complete. First, it is desirable for both sample survey and mathematical statistics researchers to agree on some basic notation used differently in the two branches, e.g., capital letters and lower case letters are used inversely in representing random variables and their observed values. This often obstructs the communication between researchers in these fields. Therefore, it is recommended that capital and lower case letters be used to represent random variables and their observed values, respectively, according to the custom in most branches of statistics. It is also recommended that population parameters be represented by Greek letters, for the same reason. Second, the concepts of sufficiency, completeness, and invariance, and important theorems relevant to them, should be clearly stated for professional readers so that the structure of the sampling theory in finite populations is closely related to that of statistical theory in infinite populations. There exist some essential differences between them which the proper characteristics of sampling theory could clarify.
202
Book Reviews
Third, important theorems and formulae should be suitably numbered for the convenience of readers referring to them. Finally, it is desirable that book and article references stated in the text be placed in a reference list. Yasushi Taga Shizuoka University
201
tied and corrected in places, the whole would have been a useful, short, introduction to quantitative methods in economics for economists who know no regression and have a grasp of matrix algebra. However, with its present faults, it is difficult to see to what audience it can be recommended. R.J. O’Brien University of Southampton
H.S. Konijn, Statistical Theory of Sample Survey Design and Analysis Amsterdam, 1974) pp. xv+429, $32.50.
(North-Holland,
The forward states that this book is ‘directed both to professionals and to students,. . . (and) aimed at presenting the theory of sampling surveys as a bridge between the most elementary introduction to probability and statistics on the one hand, and the more sophisticated and abstract uses of probability in statistical inference on the other’ from the pedagogical viewpoint. It consists of the following twelvechapters: Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
I II IIA III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Introduction, Simple random sampling (including simple cluster sampling), Ratio and related estimators in simple random sampling (further results), Stratified sampling, Sampling with replacement and utilization of distinct units only, Selection of sampling units, Sampling with unequal probabilities, Cluster sampling, The use of models, Systematic random sampling, Nonsampling errors, Repeated surveys, Some remarks on analytic uses of surveys.
Further, a quide, Uses of the book for various courses of study, and author and subject indices are included. The various concepts, formulae, and theorems are clearly stated and explained in lecture format, with simple and suitable examples which aid the readers’ understanding. Many footnotes appear which fill some gaps and add brief descriptions (e.g., in the central limit theorem, optimum stratification) for professional readers. The first aim of the book - ‘being directed both to professionals and students’ - is accomplished nearly perfectly throughout the text. The second aim - ‘presenting the theory of sampling surveys as a bridge between the most elementary introduction. . .‘- however, needs some revision and addition of points and descriptions in order to make the bridge complete. First, it is desirable for both sample survey and mathematical statistics researchers to agree on some basic notation used differently in the two branches, e.g., capital letters and lower case letters are used inversely in representing random variables and their observed values. This often obstructs the communication between researchers in these fields. Therefore, it is recommended that capital and lower case letters be used to represent random variables and their observed values, respectively, according to the custom in most branches of statistics. It is also recommended that population parameters be represented by Greek letters, for the same reason. Second, the concepts of sufficiency, completeness, and invariance, and important theorems relevant to them, should be clearly stated for professional readers so that the structure of the sampling theory in finite populations is closely related to that of statistical theory in infinite populations. There exist some essential differences between them which the proper characteristics of sampling theory could clarify.
202
Book Reviews
Third, important theorems and formulae should be suitably numbered for the convenience of readers referring to them. Finally, it is desirable that book and article references stated in the text be placed in a reference list. Yasushi Taga Shizuoka University