Hi all,
A friendly reminder that we are hosting an upcoming webinar on statistical methods for hard-to-reach human populations, sponsored by the Survey Research Methods Section. See detailed information below and the webinar flyer is included as an attachment. Please help spread the word as well - thanks!
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Title: Finding the Hook: Statistical Methods for Hard-to-Reach Human Populations
Date and Time: Friday, November 7, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET
Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
Speaker: Krista Gile, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Description: In 2025, data abound. The day-to-day activities of large parts of the human population leave extensive data footprints. Left out of this data revolution, however, are populations and human experiences that are not represented in standard digital footprints, and especially those that are also beyond the reach of standard survey practices. This includes populations, behaviors, and experiences that are hidden or marginalized in traditional datasets. Examples include populations defined by stigmatized activities that put them at risk for HIV/AIDS including men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and female sex workers.
This webinar introduces specialized statistical approaches designed to study such populations. It begins with two methods designed to estimate the population size: the Network Scale-Up Method and Multiple Systems Estimation. It then introduces Respondent-Driven Sampling: a method designed to learn features of the target population (rather than just its size).
The webinar will introduce the basic statistical background of each method, then focus on the hooks: what are the foundational assumptions that allow for inference in these settings of very limited data? We will reflect on the challenges to these assumptions posed by real human populations and reference statistical developments that allow these assumptions to be relaxed or changed. This webinar may be of interest to statisticians interested in an introduction to these 3 methods, interested in studying hard-to-reach human populations, or interested in finding the hook in other challenging data settings.
Registration Fees: $20 SRMS section member; $30 ASA member; $25 ASA student member; and $45 non-member. Each registration is allowed one web connection. Sound is received via audio streaming from your computer's speakers.
REGISTRATION: Please follow the link: https://amstat.users.membersuite.com/events/2e04bc98-0078-c5bd-4a11-0b48bb853e67/details
Access Information: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join. Mark your calendar so you don't miss the webinar! Note that if you register but can't attend the webinar, you will be able to watch the webinar recording. The link to the recording will be shared with all registered participants within 48 business hours after it occurs.
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Monika Hu
Binghamton University
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