The Effects of Measurement Error on Health Estimates in Web-Based Versus Face-to-Face National Health Surveys

This report explores the effects of measurement error on seven national health estimates among the general U.S. adult population based on two data sources: a web-based survey, the third round of the Research and Development Survey (RANDS 3), and an in-person household survey, the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (2019 NHIS). These seven health estimates are based on five physical health variables and two mental health variables. The five physical health variables include ever diagnosed by a physician or other medical professional with asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, high cholesterol, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The two mental health variables are mild, moderate, and severe levels of major depressive disorder (depression) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).