Strategies for origin-based surveying of international migrants

J Ethn Migr Stud. 2019;45(7):1185-1206. doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2017.1394178. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Abstract

This paper addresses methodological challenges of investigations of international migration, including difficulties in obtaining information about representative samples of migrants and both their origin and destination location. Our project used an origin-based sample with a destination focused survey and interviewed 91% of migrants from a community in Nepal to any destination and shares techniques employed. Our procedures and high response rate constitute a significant improvement in survey methods that permit the creation of unbiased data on migrants and allow the study of migration in conjunction with origin communities.

Keywords: data collection method; international migration; origin-based sampling.