2007 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey: Volume 1: Methodology Report

Boyle, John M., 1947-; Lampkin, Cheryl · 2008 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research

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Summary

This document serves as the methodology report for the 2007 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS), the sixth in a series of national telephone surveys conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The study aimed to collect data on occupant protection issues, specifically seat belt usage and child restraint use, to support behavioral safety research. The survey was designed to produce national estimates of the target population (persons aged 16 and older) with valid generalizations, utilizing a rigorous probability sampling framework. The study employed a multi-stage sampling design using modified stratified random digit dialing (RDD). The sample was stratified by ten NHTSA regions based on Census population projections. Each of the two survey instruments—one focusing on seat belts and the other on child restraints—targeted a national probability sample of approximately 6,000 respondents. This included a cross-sectional sample of roughly 4,500 persons aged 16 and older and an oversample of approximately 1,500 young adults aged 16–39 to allow for more detailed analysis of this demographic. Within households, respondents were selected using the "most recent/next birthday" method. To address historical over-representation of women, the 2007 survey eliminated gender quotas in favor of a probability-based selection algorithm that increased the likelihood of selecting males when both genders were present. Data collection occurred between January 9 and April 30, 2007, conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc. The methodology included several procedural enhancements over previous surveys. The field period was extended to January–April to accommodate an extended callback protocol, increasing maximum contact attempts from 10 to 22 (12 to reach the household and 10 to interview the designated respondent) to improve response rates among younger, more mobile populations. The study also incorporated Spanish-language interviews, cognitive testing for questionnaire revisions, and refusal conversion scripts. Additionally, the survey included two Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-requested experiments: a test of pre-notification letters on response rates and a pilot test of recruiting cell-phone-only households into the RDD sample. The report details the statistical procedures used to ensure data precision, including sample weighting to correct for sampling and non-sampling bias, and calculations for sampling error and design effects. By documenting these specific methodological choices—such as the shift from gender quotas to probability-based selection and the expansion of contact attempts—the report establishes the validity and reliability of the resulting data. This methodology ensures that the survey findings accurately reflect the national population’s attitudes and behaviors regarding motor vehicle occupant safety, providing a robust foundation for subsequent policy analysis and trend comparisons with prior MVOSS cycles.

Key finding

The document describes the methodological framework and sampling procedures for the 2007 survey but does not present completed research results or empirical findings.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 6000

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence