A novel item-allocation procedure for the three-form planned missing data design

• Main Authors: Kyle M. Lang, E. Whitney G. Moore, Elizabeth M. Grandfield
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-01-01
• Series: MethodsX
• Subjects: Planned missing data; Survey design; Matrix sampling; Questionnaires
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016120301618

We propose a new method of constructing questionnaire forms in the three-form planned missing data design (PMDD). The random item allocation (RIA) procedure that we propose promises to dramatically simplify the process of implementing three-form PMDDs without compromising statistical performance. Our method is a stochastic approximation to the currently recommended approach of deterministically spreading a scale's items across the X-, A-, B-, and C-blocks when allocating the items in a three-form design. Direct empirical support for the performance of our method is only available for scales containing at least 12 items, so we also propose a modified approach for use with scales containing fewer than 12 items. We also discuss the limitations of our procedure and several nuances for researchers to consider when implementing three-form PMDDs using our method.● The RIA procedure allows researchers to implement statistically sound three-form planned missing data designs without the need for expert knowledge or results from prior statistical modeling.● The RIA procedure can be used to construct both “paper-and-pencil” questionnaires and questionnaires administered through online survey software.● The RIA procedure is a simple framework to aid in designing three-form PMDDs; implementing the RIA method does not require any specialized software or technical expertise.