title: How representative is the ACTIVE sample? A statistical comparison of the ACTIVE sample and the HRS sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research is designed to examine demographic differences between the ACTIVE sample and the larger, nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  After describing some relevant demographics (age, education, sex, and race/ethnicity), we use three statistical methods to determine sample differences--logistic regression modeling (LRM), decision tree analysis (DTA), and post-stratification and raking methods. When some differences are found, we create sample weights that other researchers can use to adjust these differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACTIVE sample is younger, more likely to be female, Black, and more highly educated than the HRS sample. Sample weights were created.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By using the resulting sample weights, all results of ACTIVE analyses can be said to be nationally representative based on HRS demographics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Prindle
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McArdle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D015983:Selection Bias; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D014481:United States
keywords: ACTIVE; demographics; nationally representative sample; sample weights; statistical methods