Measurement of Florida temporary residents using a telephone survey

Abstract

Literature on temporary migrants is sparse compared to the varied impacts in locales affected. Both the aging of the US population and an increase in telecommuting argue for more research in this area rather than less. One reason for the lack of studies is the absence of good data. This paper examines methodologies reported in the literature and suggests an “add-on” telephone survey design that is replicable. In this paper, results from a cross section of a Florida telephone survey are compared to results obtained using a similar instrument in Arizona. The telephone survey promises both cost effectiveness and a design that can be repeated in different locations. This methodology, applied across states and areas, will provide a unified approach to collecting data on temporary migrants in the US population.