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NAEP Assessment Sample Design → NAEP 2006 Sample Design → Selection of Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) for the 2006 Assessment

NAEP Technical DocumentationSelection of Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) for the 2006 Assessment

			PSU Generation: Metropolitan Statistical Areas PSU Generation: Certainty PSUs PSU Generation: Non-Metropolitan Statistical Areas PSU Frame: Stratification Final PSU Sample

Primary sampling units (PSUs) are the first stage of sampling, with the selection of schools the second stage, and the selection of students the third stage. A sample of 105 PSUs was drawn from a frame of PSUs based on current Census information. After the PSU frame was created, certainty PSUs (those with large measures of size that make it efficient to take them with probability of selection equal to 1) were identified and set aside.

Stratification of the noncertainty PSUs (those with probabilities of selection strictly less than 1) was carried out after analysis of Census 2000 data and NAEP 2000 achievement scores identified the stratification variables. This analysis identified the set of PSU-level, Census-based variables that had as much association with mathematics and science assessment scores, as possible. This stratification is conducted periodically, according to the availability of Census data and key assessment scores. Measures of size and probabilities of selection were defined, and a systematic sample of PSUs was drawn.

The PSUs satisfied the following criteria:

• The PSU sampling frame included all U.S. counties and the District of Columbia, but excluded the U.S. Territories and Puerto Rico;

• PSUs consisted of one county or contiguous multiple counties;

• Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were designated as separate PSUs even with their large size, as they were sufficiently compact in terms of their travel costs (due to higher levels of transportation infrastructure);

• PSUs did not cross Census region boundaries;

• PSUs did not cross state boundaries, in general;

• Non-MSA PSUs in the Northeast and South Census regions had a minimum population of 15,000 youths (age 0 to 17 inclusive), and in the Midwest and West Census regions had a minimum population of 10,000 youths, in general, according to the 2003 U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program; and

• Non-MSA PSUs were to be of minimum size (defined in terms of square miles or maximum distance between points—a rough proxy for travel time) while still satisfying the minimum population constraints.

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