First National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey

Stratification of the FoodAPS sample was based on participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and poverty level. The four strata are as follows: Households receiving SNAP benefits; Non-SNAP households with income less than the poverty level guideline; Non-SNAP households with income at or above the poverty guideline and less than 185 percent of that level; and Non-SNAP households with income equal to or greater than 185 percent of the poverty guideline. Prior to sampling, 948 PSUs within the continental United States were defined as counties or groups of contiguous counties. In forming PSUs, metropolitan statistical area (MSA) boundaries were used (some MSAs were split into multiple PSUs, but in no case was part of one MSA joined to part of another MSA to form a PSU). One large PSU was sampled with certainty, and 49 non-certainty PSUs were selected using probability proportional to size (PPS) with implicit stratification based on the metropolitan status of the PSU and its FNS region. Eight secondary sampling units (SSUs) were formed within each of the 50 sampled PSUs; each SSU is a census block group (CBG), or a group of contiguous block groups if the CBG did not meet minimum size requirements. SSUs were selected using PPS sampling as well. Within sampled SSUs, addresses for screening were selected from two primary sampling frames: (1) a list of addresses of all SNAP participants active in February 2012; and (2) a list of addresses in the Address Based Sampling (ABS) list, obtained from the United States Postal Service Delivery Sequence File, that were not on the SNAP list of addresses. In states for which SNAP administrative data could not be obtained, the ABS list was used as a single sample frame. Finally, field listing of addresses was done in a few rural areas, and the field listing was used as a single address frame. Residential units were sampled in two phases. FoodAPS used this two-phase sampling approach for conducting the screener interview as a way to reduce the potential of non-response bias. In the first phase, attempts were made to screen all released sample addresses. If no contact was made after a pre-specified number of attempts at different hours of the day and week, the address was moved to a sample frame for Phase 2. Addresses in this frame were sampled for additional contact efforts toward the end of the survey period.

• Administrative records
• Mixed or multi modes
• Survey (self- or interviewer-administered)
• Database Linkage
• Barcode Scanner

Irregular - Not yet repeated but development of the second round of the survey is currently underway

Varies depending on the question being asked or concept/construct of interest (e.g., income sources were monthly, daily recall of food acquisitions over a seven-day period, etc.)

Find additional information about data collection in the User Guide and other documentation on the FoodAPS website (https://www.ers.usda.gov/foodaps)