The weighted sequential hot deck imputation procedure

Abstract

One of the most commonly used item nonresponse adjustment procedures is hot deck imputation which uses current survey responses to substitute for missing data. In using the hot deck procedure, the sample individuals are usually partitioned into categories or imputation classes. Having formed these classes, the data records are then ordered according to important variables which influence response. Based upon the present data set or previous data, the ~t deck procedure stores initial values by cl ss for each variable to be imputed. As the survey data are processed, the imputation class to which an individual belongs is determined If the record being processed is complete with respect to the variable or set of variables to be imputed, then that individual's responses replace the responses stored for the relevant imputation class of the hot deck. When a record is encountered with a missing response for an item, the last response stored in the hot deck for the same class is imputed for the missing response. When all records have been processed and the missing data imputed, estimates are usually computed without accounting for the effect of the imputation procedure. 1