Analyses Based on Combining Similar Information from Multiple Surveys

Many researchers have access to different survey sources, each with similar variables. These researchers are often interested in the appropriateness of bringing together the data from the different sources for the purpose of data analysis, particularly when each source has a small sample size for the question being studied. We address a variety of topics that the researchers should be aware of such as the comparability of the variables across surveys, and the suitability of positing a model for the variables in the different surveys. We discuss possible approaches for combining the information.