RANDS During COVID-19

At a glance

  • The National Center for Health Statistics adapted the Research and Development Survey (RANDS) to collect timely information about COVID-19 during the pandemic.
  • Access and download data and documentation from the 3 rounds of RANDS during COVID-19.
Conceptual image of hand with magnifying glass reviewing documents

Overview

In 2020, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) adapted the Research and Development Survey (RANDS) to collect timely information in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This specialized version of RANDS was named "RANDS during COVID-19" to distinguish it from the original, ongoing RANDS surveys.

NCHS conducted two rounds of RANDS during COVID in the summer of 2020. RANDS during COVID-19 Rounds 1 and 2 included both a probability sample panel and a nonprobability sample panel. The Rounds 1 and 2 probability sample used a longitudinal design to track responses from the same people at two points in time.

RANDS during COVID-19 Round 3—the last round of RANDS during COVID-19—was sampled independently from the first two rounds and did not continue the previous longitudinal design. RANDS during COVID-19 Round 3 used only a probability sample panel.

Explore RANDS during COVID-19‎‎

Get experimental estimates of loss of work due to illness, telemedicine access and use, and reduced access to health care during the pandemic.

About these resources

Each data file includes—

  • Questionnaire data
  • Respondent demographic characteristics
  • Sample weights

Data files are available in .csv and .txt formats and include—

  • The codebook of variables
  • Example SAS code to read the .txt file
  • SAS formats
  • Survey questionnaire