# surveycore vs. survey and srvyr

If you’re coming from `survey` or `srvyr`, this vignette is a side-by-side reference showing how surveycore maps to the workflows you already know. Every section shows the same task three ways: `survey`, `srvyr`, and `surveycore`.

Two things to know upfront:

- surveycore is not a wrapper around `survey`. Its variance code is vendored from `survey` — so every estimate surveycore produces matches `survey` output numerically — but `survey` is not a runtime dependency.
- `survey` → `srvyr` added tidyverse syntax. surveycore rethinks the interface further: tidy-select constructors, dedicated analysis functions, automatic label handling from haven-imported data, and richer tibble output.

Constructor comparisons use the `api` dataset from the `survey` package — the same reference dataset as the srvyr comparison vignette, so cross-referencing is easy. Analysis comparisons use `ns_wave1` (Nationscape Wave 1, Democracy Fund + UCLA) from surveycore’s bundled data.

## 1. Creating Survey Design Objects

### 1.1 Simple Random Sample

`apisrs` is a simple random sample of California schools.

survey

    srs_sv <- svydesign(ids = ~1, fpc = ~fpc, weights = ~pw, data = apisrs)
    srs_sv

    #> Independent Sampling design
    #> svydesign(ids = ~1, fpc = ~fpc, weights = ~pw, data = apisrs)

srvyr

    srs_srvyr <- apisrs |> as_survey_design(ids = 1, fpc = fpc, weights = pw)
    srs_srvyr

    #> Independent Sampling design
    #> Called via srvyr
    #> Sampling variables:
    #>   - ids: `1`
    #>   - fpc: fpc
    #>   - weights: pw
    #> Data variables:
    #>   - cds (chr), stype (fct), name (chr), sname (chr), snum (dbl), dname (chr),
    #>     dnum (int), cname (chr), cnum (int), flag (int), pcttest (int), api00
    #>     (int), api99 (int), target (int), growth (int), sch.wide (fct), comp.imp
    #>     (fct), both (fct), awards (fct), meals (int), ell (int), yr.rnd (fct),
    #>     mobility (int), acs.k3 (int), acs.46 (int), acs.core (int), pct.resp (int),
    #>     not.hsg (int), hsg (int), some.col (int), col.grad (int), grad.sch (int),
    #>     avg.ed (dbl), full (int), emer (int), enroll (int), api.stu (int), pw
    #>     (dbl), fpc (dbl)

surveycore

    srs_sc <- surveycore::as_survey(apisrs, weights = pw, fpc = fpc)
    srs_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_taylor> (Taylor series linearization)

    #> Sample size: 200

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 200 × 39
    #>    cds       stype name  sname  snum dname  dnum cname  cnum  flag pcttest api00
    #>    <chr>     <fct> <chr> <chr> <dbl> <chr> <int> <chr> <int> <int>   <int> <int>
    #>  1 15739081… H     "McF… McFa…  1039 McFa…   432 Kern     14    NA      98   462
    #>  2 19642126… E     "Sto… Stow…  1124 ABC …     1 Los …    18    NA     100   878
    #>  3 30664493… H     "Bre… Brea…  2868 Brea…    79 Oran…    29    NA      98   734
    #>  4 19644516… E     "Ala… Alam…  1273 Down…   187 Los …    18    NA      99   772
    #>  5 40688096… E     "Sun… Sunn…  4926 San …   640 San …    39    NA      99   739
    #>  6 19734456… E     "Los… Los …  2463 Haci…   284 Los …    18    NA      93   835
    #>  7 19647336… M     "Nor… Nort…  2031 Los …   401 Los …    18    NA      98   456
    #>  8 19647336… E     "Gla… Glas…  1736 Los …   401 Los …    18    NA      99   506
    #>  9 19648166… E     "Max… Maxs…  2142 Moun…   470 Los …    18    NA     100   543
    #> 10 38684786… E     "Tre… Trea…  4754 San …   632 San …    37    NA      90   649
    #> # ℹ 190 more rows
    #> # ℹ 27 more variables: api99 <int>, target <int>, growth <int>, sch.wide <fct>,
    #> #   comp.imp <fct>, both <fct>, awards <fct>, meals <int>, ell <int>,
    #> #   yr.rnd <fct>, mobility <int>, acs.k3 <int>, acs.46 <int>, acs.core <int>,
    #> #   pct.resp <int>, not.hsg <int>, hsg <int>, some.col <int>, col.grad <int>,
    #> #   grad.sch <int>, avg.ed <dbl>, full <int>, emer <int>, enroll <int>,
    #> #   api.stu <int>, pw <dbl>, fpc <dbl>

`ids = ~1` is `survey`’s idiom for “no clusters” — not immediately obvious to new users. `as_survey()` without `ids` or `strata` creates an SRS design directly, making the design type clear from context.

### 1.2 Stratified Design

`apistrat` is stratified by school type (`stype`: E = elementary, M = middle, H = high school).

survey

    strat_sv <- svydesign(
      ids = ~1, strata = ~stype, weights = ~pw, fpc = ~fpc, data = apistrat
    )
    strat_sv

    #> Stratified Independent Sampling design
    #> svydesign(ids = ~1, strata = ~stype, weights = ~pw, fpc = ~fpc,
    #>     data = apistrat)

srvyr

    strat_srvyr <- apistrat |>
      as_survey_design(strata = stype, weights = pw, fpc = fpc)
    strat_srvyr

    #> Stratified Independent Sampling design
    #> Called via srvyr
    #> Sampling variables:
    #>   - ids: `1`
    #>   - strata: stype
    #>   - fpc: fpc
    #>   - weights: pw
    #> Data variables:
    #>   - cds (chr), stype (fct), name (chr), sname (chr), snum (dbl), dname (chr),
    #>     dnum (int), cname (chr), cnum (int), flag (int), pcttest (int), api00
    #>     (int), api99 (int), target (int), growth (int), sch.wide (fct), comp.imp
    #>     (fct), both (fct), awards (fct), meals (int), ell (int), yr.rnd (fct),
    #>     mobility (int), acs.k3 (int), acs.46 (int), acs.core (int), pct.resp (int),
    #>     not.hsg (int), hsg (int), some.col (int), col.grad (int), grad.sch (int),
    #>     avg.ed (dbl), full (int), emer (int), enroll (int), api.stu (int), pw
    #>     (dbl), fpc (dbl)

surveycore

    strat_sc <- surveycore::as_survey(apistrat, strata = stype, weights = pw, fpc = fpc)
    strat_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_taylor> (Taylor series linearization)

    #> Sample size: 200

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 200 × 39
    #>    cds       stype name  sname  snum dname  dnum cname  cnum  flag pcttest api00
    #>    <chr>     <fct> <chr> <chr> <dbl> <chr> <int> <chr> <int> <int>   <int> <int>
    #>  1 19647336… E     Open… Open…  2077 Los …   401 Los …    18    NA      99   840
    #>  2 19647336… E     Belv… Belv…  1622 Los …   401 Los …    18    NA     100   516
    #>  3 19648816… E     Alta… Alta…  2236 Pasa…   541 Los …    18    NA      99   531
    #>  4 19647336… E     Soto… Soto…  1921 Los …   401 Los …    18    NA     100   501
    #>  5 56739406… E     Waln… Waln…  6140 Moor…   460 Vent…    55    NA     100   720
    #>  6 56726036… E     Athe… Athe…  6077 Simi…   689 Vent…    55    NA     100   805
    #>  7 56726036… E     Town… Town…  6071 Simi…   689 Vent…    55    NA      99   778
    #>  8 15633216… E     Thor… Thor…   904 Bake…    41 Kern     14    NA      98   731
    #>  9 37683956… E     Nico… Nico…  4637 Sout…   702 San …    36    NA     100   592
    #> 10 37680236… E     Vall… Vall…  4311 Chul…   135 San …    36    NA     100   669
    #> # ℹ 190 more rows
    #> # ℹ 27 more variables: api99 <int>, target <int>, growth <int>, sch.wide <fct>,
    #> #   comp.imp <fct>, both <fct>, awards <fct>, meals <int>, ell <int>,
    #> #   yr.rnd <fct>, mobility <int>, acs.k3 <int>, acs.46 <int>, acs.core <int>,
    #> #   pct.resp <int>, not.hsg <int>, hsg <int>, some.col <int>, col.grad <int>,
    #> #   grad.sch <int>, avg.ed <dbl>, full <int>, emer <int>, enroll <int>,
    #> #   api.stu <int>, pw <dbl>, fpc <dbl>

### 1.3 Cluster Design

`apiclus1` is a one-stage cluster sample with school districts (`dnum`) as the primary sampling units.

survey

    clus_sv <- svydesign(ids = ~dnum, fpc = ~fpc, weights = ~pw, data = apiclus1)
    clus_sv

    #> 1 - level Cluster Sampling design
    #> With (15) clusters.
    #> svydesign(ids = ~dnum, fpc = ~fpc, weights = ~pw, data = apiclus1)

srvyr

    clus_srvyr <- apiclus1 |>
      as_survey_design(ids = dnum, fpc = fpc, weights = pw)
    clus_srvyr

    #> 1 - level Cluster Sampling design
    #> With (15) clusters.
    #> Called via srvyr
    #> Sampling variables:
    #>   - ids: dnum
    #>   - fpc: fpc
    #>   - weights: pw
    #> Data variables:
    #>   - cds (chr), stype (fct), name (chr), sname (chr), snum (dbl), dname (chr),
    #>     dnum (int), cname (chr), cnum (int), flag (int), pcttest (int), api00
    #>     (int), api99 (int), target (int), growth (int), sch.wide (fct), comp.imp
    #>     (fct), both (fct), awards (fct), meals (int), ell (int), yr.rnd (fct),
    #>     mobility (int), acs.k3 (int), acs.46 (int), acs.core (int), pct.resp (int),
    #>     not.hsg (int), hsg (int), some.col (int), col.grad (int), grad.sch (int),
    #>     avg.ed (dbl), full (int), emer (int), enroll (int), api.stu (int), fpc
    #>     (dbl), pw (dbl)

surveycore

    clus_sc <- surveycore::as_survey(apiclus1, ids = dnum, fpc = fpc, weights = pw)
    clus_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_taylor> (Taylor series linearization)

    #> Sample size: 183

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 183 × 39
    #>    cds       stype name  sname  snum dname  dnum cname  cnum  flag pcttest api00
    #>    <chr>     <fct> <chr> <chr> <dbl> <chr> <int> <chr> <int> <int>   <int> <int>
    #>  1 01612910… H     San … San …   236 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA      97   608
    #>  2 01612916… E     Garf… Garf…   237 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   684
    #>  3 01612916… E     Jeff… Jeff…   238 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   612
    #>  4 01612916… E     Madi… Madi…   239 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   710
    #>  5 01612916… E     McKi… McKi…   240 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA      99   729
    #>  6 01612916… E     Monr… Monr…   241 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   714
    #>  7 01612916… E     Roos… Roos…   242 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA      99   759
    #>  8 01612916… E     Wash… Wash…   243 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA      99   585
    #>  9 01612916… E     Wils… Wils…   244 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   625
    #> 10 01612916… M     Banc… Banc…   245 San …   637 Alam…     1    NA     100   664
    #> # ℹ 173 more rows
    #> # ℹ 27 more variables: api99 <int>, target <int>, growth <int>, sch.wide <fct>,
    #> #   comp.imp <fct>, both <fct>, awards <fct>, meals <int>, ell <int>,
    #> #   yr.rnd <fct>, mobility <int>, acs.k3 <int>, acs.46 <int>, acs.core <int>,
    #> #   pct.resp <int>, not.hsg <int>, hsg <int>, some.col <int>, col.grad <int>,
    #> #   grad.sch <int>, avg.ed <dbl>, full <int>, emer <int>, enroll <int>,
    #> #   api.stu <int>, fpc <dbl>, pw <dbl>

### 1.4 Replicate Weights

Replicate weights are common in government surveys like the ACS PUMS (80 successive-difference replicates) and Pew’s Jewish Americans Study (100 JK1 replicates). Both datasets are bundled with surveycore.

The key interface difference: `survey` selects replicate columns with a raw regex string; surveycore uses tidyselect — the same composable selection language used throughout the tidyverse.

ACS PUMS Wyoming — successive-difference replicates

    acs_sv <- svrepdesign(
      data             = acs_pums_wy,
      weights          = ~pwgtp,
      repweights       = "pwgtp[0-9]+",   # regex string
      type             = "successive-difference",
      combined.weights = TRUE
    )
    acs_sv

    #> Call: svrepdesign.default(data = acs_pums_wy, weights = ~pwgtp, repweights = "pwgtp[0-9]+",
    #>     type = "successive-difference", combined.weights = TRUE)
    #> with 80 replicates.

    acs_srvyr <- acs_pums_wy |>
      as_survey_rep(
        weights          = pwgtp,
        repweights       = matches("^pwgtp[0-9]+$"), # tidyselect
        type             = "successive-difference",
        combined_weights = TRUE
      )
    acs_srvyr

    #> Call: Called via srvyr
    #> with 80 replicates.
    #> Sampling variables:
    #>   - repweights: `pwgtp1 + pwgtp2 + pwgtp3 + pwgtp4 + pwgtp5 + pwgtp6 + pwgtp7 +
    #>     pwgtp8 + pwgtp9 + pwgtp10 + pwgtp11 + pwgtp12 + pwgtp13 + pwgtp14 + pwgtp15
    #>     + pwgtp16 + pwgtp17 + pwgtp18 + pwgtp19 + pwgtp20 + pwgtp21 + pwgtp22 +
    #>     pwgtp23 + pwgtp24 + pwgtp25 + pwgtp26 + pwgtp27 + pwgtp28 + pwgtp29 +
    #>     pwgtp30 + pwgtp31 + pwgtp32 + pwgtp33 + pwgtp34 + pwgtp35 + pwgtp36 +
    #>     pwgtp37 + pwgtp38 + pwgtp39 + pwgtp40 + pwgtp41 + pwgtp42 + pwgtp43 +
    #>     pwgtp44 + pwgtp45 + pwgtp46 + pwgtp47 + pwgtp48 + pwgtp49 + pwgtp50 +
    #>     pwgtp51 + pwgtp52 + pwgtp53 + pwgtp54 + pwgtp55 + pwgtp56 + pwgtp57 +
    #>     pwgtp58 + pwgtp59 + pwgtp60 + pwgtp61 + pwgtp62 + pwgtp63 + pwgtp64 +
    #>     pwgtp65 + pwgtp66 + pwgtp67 + pwgtp68 + pwgtp69 + pwgtp70 + pwgtp71 +
    #>     pwgtp72 + pwgtp73 + pwgtp74 + pwgtp75 + pwgtp76 + pwgtp77 + pwgtp78 +
    #>     pwgtp79 + pwgtp80`
    #>   - weights: pwgtp
    #> Data variables:
    #>   - puma (int), st (int), pwgtp (int), pwgtp1 (int), pwgtp2 (int), pwgtp3
    #>     (int), pwgtp4 (int), pwgtp5 (int), pwgtp6 (int), pwgtp7 (int), pwgtp8
    #>     (int), pwgtp9 (int), pwgtp10 (int), pwgtp11 (int), pwgtp12 (int), pwgtp13
    #>     (int), pwgtp14 (int), pwgtp15 (int), pwgtp16 (int), pwgtp17 (int), pwgtp18
    #>     (int), pwgtp19 (int), pwgtp20 (int), pwgtp21 (int), pwgtp22 (int), pwgtp23
    #>     (int), pwgtp24 (int), pwgtp25 (int), pwgtp26 (int), pwgtp27 (int), pwgtp28
    #>     (int), pwgtp29 (int), pwgtp30 (int), pwgtp31 (int), pwgtp32 (int), pwgtp33
    #>     (int), pwgtp34 (int), pwgtp35 (int), pwgtp36 (int), pwgtp37 (int), pwgtp38
    #>     (int), pwgtp39 (int), pwgtp40 (int), pwgtp41 (int), pwgtp42 (int), pwgtp43
    #>     (int), pwgtp44 (int), pwgtp45 (int), pwgtp46 (int), pwgtp47 (int), pwgtp48
    #>     (int), pwgtp49 (int), pwgtp50 (int), pwgtp51 (int), pwgtp52 (int), pwgtp53
    #>     (int), pwgtp54 (int), pwgtp55 (int), pwgtp56 (int), pwgtp57 (int), pwgtp58
    #>     (int), pwgtp59 (int), pwgtp60 (int), pwgtp61 (int), pwgtp62 (int), pwgtp63
    #>     (int), pwgtp64 (int), pwgtp65 (int), pwgtp66 (int), pwgtp67 (int), pwgtp68
    #>     (int), pwgtp69 (int), pwgtp70 (int), pwgtp71 (int), pwgtp72 (int), pwgtp73
    #>     (int), pwgtp74 (int), pwgtp75 (int), pwgtp76 (int), pwgtp77 (int), pwgtp78
    #>     (int), pwgtp79 (int), pwgtp80 (int), agep (int), sex (int), rac1p (int),
    #>     hisp (int), schl (int), esr (int), pincp (int), wagp (int), hicov (int),
    #>     dis (int), povpip (int), wkhp (int), adjinc (int)

    acs_sc <- as_survey_replicate(
      acs_pums_wy,
      weights    = pwgtp,
      repweights = tidyselect::matches("^pwgtp[0-9]+$"), # tidyselect
      type       = "successive-difference"
    )
    acs_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_replicate> (SUCCESSIVE-DIFFERENCE, 80 replicates)

    #> Sample size: 5962

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 5,962 × 96
    #>     puma    st pwgtp pwgtp1 pwgtp2 pwgtp3 pwgtp4 pwgtp5 pwgtp6 pwgtp7 pwgtp8
    #>    <int> <int> <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>  <int>
    #>  1   500    56    25     24     28     20     24     27     26     27     25
    #>  2   400    56   128    158    145    133    141    133    128    124    116
    #>  3   200    56   121    104     93    121     97     94    146    169    147
    #>  4   300    56    24      0     22     41      0      5     43     24     20
    #>  5   500    56    26     31     33     28     32     29     26     28     27
    #>  6   300    56    25     26      0     24      0     25     24      0     22
    #>  7   300    56    91     85     93     80     80     99    100     97     96
    #>  8   500    56    20     21     19     36     23     32     16     20     43
    #>  9   500    56   132    138    143    138    143    151    150    134    144
    #> 10   100    56    89    113     83    146     71     76    141    117     10
    #> # ℹ 5,952 more rows
    #> # ℹ 85 more variables: pwgtp9 <int>, pwgtp10 <int>, pwgtp11 <int>,
    #> #   pwgtp12 <int>, pwgtp13 <int>, pwgtp14 <int>, pwgtp15 <int>, pwgtp16 <int>,
    #> #   pwgtp17 <int>, pwgtp18 <int>, pwgtp19 <int>, pwgtp20 <int>, pwgtp21 <int>,
    #> #   pwgtp22 <int>, pwgtp23 <int>, pwgtp24 <int>, pwgtp25 <int>, pwgtp26 <int>,
    #> #   pwgtp27 <int>, pwgtp28 <int>, pwgtp29 <int>, pwgtp30 <int>, pwgtp31 <int>,
    #> #   pwgtp32 <int>, pwgtp33 <int>, pwgtp34 <int>, pwgtp35 <int>, …

Pew Jewish Americans 2020 — JK1 jackknife replicates

    pew_sc <- as_survey_replicate(
      pew_jewish_2020,
      weights    = extweight,
      repweights = extweight1:extweight100,
      type       = "JK1"
    )
    pew_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_replicate> (JK1, 100 replicates)

    #> Sample size: 5881

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 5,881 × 130
    #>    extweight extweight1 extweight2 extweight3 extweight4 extweight5 extweight6
    #>        <dbl>      <dbl>      <dbl>      <dbl>      <dbl>      <dbl>      <dbl>
    #>  1      271.       267.       272.       271.       272.       269.       265.
    #>  2      186.       183.       236.       186.       189.       185.       182.
    #>  3      182.       181.       185.       188.       184.       181.       189.
    #>  4      308.       307.       312.       324.       308.       305.       320.
    #>  5      165.       165.       167.       170.       166.       163.       164.
    #>  6      173.       170.       175.       173.       174.       173.       168.
    #>  7      352.       347.       353.       351.       358.       353.       338.
    #>  8      314.       312.       318.       316.       314.       314.       309.
    #>  9      395.       394.       395.       394.       392.       392.       392.
    #> 10      176.       177.       178.       181.       177.       175.       172.
    #> # ℹ 5,871 more rows
    #> # ℹ 123 more variables: extweight7 <dbl>, extweight8 <dbl>, extweight9 <dbl>,
    #> #   extweight10 <dbl>, extweight11 <dbl>, extweight12 <dbl>, extweight13 <dbl>,
    #> #   extweight14 <dbl>, extweight15 <dbl>, extweight16 <dbl>, extweight17 <dbl>,
    #> #   extweight18 <dbl>, extweight19 <dbl>, extweight20 <dbl>, extweight21 <dbl>,
    #> #   extweight22 <dbl>, extweight23 <dbl>, extweight24 <dbl>, extweight25 <dbl>,
    #> #   extweight26 <dbl>, extweight27 <dbl>, extweight28 <dbl>, …

### 1.5 Calibrated / Non-Probability Samples

`ns_wave1` is the Nationscape Wave 1 survey — a non-probability quota panel with raking weights calibrated to ACS demographics and 2016 vote.

`survey` and `srvyr` have no dedicated constructor for calibrated or non-probability designs. The design intent is lost in the code:

    # No way to signal this is calibrated or non-probability
    ns_sv <- svydesign(ids = ~1, weights = ~weight, data = ns_wave1)

    ns_srvyr <- ns_wave1 |> as_survey_design(weights = weight)

    # as_survey_nonprob() makes the design type explicit
    ns_sc <- as_survey_nonprob(ns_wave1, weights = weight)
    ns_sc

    #>

    #> ── Survey Design ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

    #> <survey_nonprob> (non-probability) [experimental]

    #> • Variance: SRS approximation (no bootstrap replicate weights)

    #> Sample size: 6422

    #>

    #> # A tibble: 6,422 × 171
    #>    response_id start_date          right_track economy_better interest
    #>    <chr>       <dttm>                    <dbl>          <dbl>    <dbl>
    #>  1 00100002    2019-07-18 08:11:41           2              2        2
    #>  2 00100003    2019-07-18 08:12:31           1              3        1
    #>  3 00100004    2019-07-18 08:12:04           2              3        2
    #>  4 00100005    2019-07-18 08:12:05           2              2        2
    #>  5 00100007    2019-07-18 08:11:43           1              1        1
    #>  6 00100008    2019-07-18 08:12:24           2              2        2
    #>  7 00100009    2019-07-18 08:13:15           2              2        4
    #>  8 00100010    2019-07-18 08:13:06           1              1        1
    #>  9 00100011    2019-07-18 08:11:47           2              2        3
    #> 10 00100012    2019-07-18 08:12:25           2              3        2
    #> # ℹ 6,412 more rows
    #> # ℹ 166 more variables: registration <dbl>, news_sources_facebook <dbl>,
    #> #   news_sources_cnn <dbl>, news_sources_msnbc <dbl>, news_sources_fox <dbl>,
    #> #   news_sources_network <dbl>, news_sources_localtv <dbl>,
    #> #   news_sources_telemundo <dbl>, news_sources_npr <dbl>,
    #> #   news_sources_amtalk <dbl>, news_sources_new_york_times <dbl>,
    #> #   news_sources_local_newspaper <dbl>, news_sources_other <dbl>, …

`as_survey_nonprob()` preserves the distinction in code, output, and documentation. Standard errors are approximate — they assume the calibration weights produce approximately correct variance estimates (Elliott and Valliant 2017).

### 1.6 Two-Phase Designs

Two-phase designs are uncommon. surveycore’s `as_survey_twophase()` matches `survey::twophase()` for the Breslow-Cain variance estimator (Breslow and Cain 1988). For a full worked example using `survival::nwtco`, see `vignette("creating-survey-objects")`.

### 1.7 Constructor Summary

Design | survey | srvyr | surveycore
--- | --- | --- | ---
SRS | `svydesign(ids=~1, ...)` | `as_survey_design(ids=1, ...)` | `as_survey(...)` (no `ids`/`strata`)
Stratified | `svydesign(strata=~s, ...)` | `as_survey_design(strata=s, ...)` | `as_survey(..., strata=s)`
Cluster | `svydesign(ids=~d, ...)` | `as_survey_design(ids=d, ...)` | `as_survey(..., ids=d)`
Replicate wts | `svrepdesign(repweights="regex")` | `as_survey_rep(repweights=matches(...))` | `as_survey_replicate(repweights=matches(...))`
Calibrated/NPS | `svydesign(ids=~1, weights=~w)` ⚠ | `as_survey_design(weights=w)` ⚠ | `as_survey_nonprob(...)`
Two-phase | `twophase(...)` | `as_survey_twophase(...)` | `as_survey_twophase(...)`

⚠ No dedicated non-probability constructor — design intent is not preserved.

## 2. Summary Statistics

The sections below use `ns_sc` (already created above) alongside the equivalent `survey` and `srvyr` designs. The label contrast — raw integer codes in `survey`/`srvyr` vs. human-readable labels in surveycore — is the recurring theme. `ns_wave1` was imported with `haven` labels intact; surveycore resolves them automatically.

### 2.1 Weighted Means (Grouped)

Estimated discrimination experienced by Black Americans, broken out by party identification (`pid3`).

survey — group values appear as raw codes (1, 2, 3, 4)

    svyby(~discrimination_blacks, ~pid3, ns_sv, svymean, na.rm = TRUE)

    #>   pid3 discrimination_blacks         se
    #> 1    1              1.827663 0.03845797
    #> 2    2              3.044733 0.04709251
    #> 3    3              2.517407 0.05141302
    #> 4    4              2.360898 0.09929886

srvyr — also raw codes unless `pid3` is manually factored first

    ns_srvyr |>
      group_by(pid3) |>
      summarise(m = survey_mean(discrimination_blacks, vartype = "ci", na.rm = TRUE))

    #> # A tibble: 5 × 4
    #>    pid3     m m_low m_upp
    #>   <dbl> <dbl> <dbl> <dbl>
    #> 1     1  1.83 1.75   1.90
    #> 2     2  3.04 2.95   3.14
    #> 3     3  2.52 2.42   2.62
    #> 4     4  2.36 2.17   2.56
    #> 5    NA  1.17 0.814  1.53

surveycore — “Democrat”, “Republican”, “Independent”, “Something else” from the haven labels, automatically

    get_means(ns_sc, discrimination_blacks, group = pid3)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 4 × 5
    #>   pid3            mean ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <fct>          <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 Democrat        1.83   1.75    1.90  2272
    #> 2 Republican      3.04   2.95    3.14  1805
    #> 3 Independent     2.52   2.42    2.62  1856
    #> 4 Something else  2.36   2.17    2.56   427

### 2.2 Proportions / Frequency Tables

Distribution of willingness to consider voting for Trump (`consider_trump`).

survey — `svymean()` on a factor produces column names like `consider_trump1`, `consider_trump2`, `consider_trump999`

    svymean(~factor(consider_trump), ns_sv, na.rm = TRUE)

    #>                              mean     SE
    #> factor(consider_trump)1   0.32052 0.0102
    #> factor(consider_trump)2   0.55475 0.0110
    #> factor(consider_trump)999 0.12473 0.0075

srvyr

    ns_srvyr |>
      group_by(consider_trump) |>
      summarise(pct = survey_mean(na.rm = TRUE))

    #> Warning: There was 1 warning in `dplyr::summarise()`.
    #> ℹ In argument: `pct = survey_mean(na.rm = TRUE)`.
    #> ℹ In group 1: `consider_trump = 1`.
    #> Caused by warning:
    #> ! na.rm argument has no effect on survey_mean when calculating grouped proportions.
    #> This warning is displayed once per session.

    #> # A tibble: 4 × 3
    #>   consider_trump     pct  pct_se
    #>            <dbl>   <dbl>   <dbl>
    #> 1              1 0.320   0.0102
    #> 2              2 0.553   0.0110
    #> 3            999 0.124   0.00744
    #> 4             NA 0.00276 0.00134

surveycore — `consider_trump` column shows “Yes”, “No”, “Don’t know”

    get_freqs(ns_sc, consider_trump)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 3 × 3
    #>   consider_trump   pct     n
    #>   <fct>          <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 Yes            0.321  2087
    #> 2 No             0.555  3615
    #> 3 Don't know     0.125   705

### 2.3 Population Totals

`ns_wave1` uses calibration weights scaled to the sample size (weights sum to 6,422 — the number of respondents). `get_totals()` with no variable argument returns the estimated population size — here, it confirms the calibration:

survey — `svytotal(~1, design)` is not supported; the sum of weights gives the estimated N, and `svytotal()` requires a real variable

    sum(weights(ns_sv))                         # estimated population N

    #> [1] 6422

    svytotal(~age, ns_sv, na.rm = TRUE)         # total of a continuous variable

    #>      total     SE
    #> age 302835 6025.5

srvyr — `survey_total(1)` computes estimated N

    ns_srvyr |> summarise(n_pop = survey_total(1))       # estimated N

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 2
    #>   n_pop n_pop_se
    #>   <dbl>    <dbl>
    #> 1 6422.     117.

    ns_srvyr |> summarise(age_total = survey_total(age, na.rm = TRUE))

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 2
    #>   age_total age_total_se
    #>       <dbl>        <dbl>
    #> 1   302835.        6025.

surveycore

    get_totals(ns_sc)           # estimated N (no x argument)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 3
    #>   total ci_low ci_high
    #>   <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl>
    #> 1 6422.  6192.   6652.

    get_totals(ns_sc, age)      # total of a continuous variable

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 4
    #>     total  ci_low ci_high     n
    #>     <dbl>   <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 302835. 291026. 314645.  6422

For a design with probability weights that sum to the actual population (like the Pew Jewish Americans study), `get_totals()` returns the estimated population count in millions:

    get_totals(pew_sc)

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 3
    #>      total   ci_low  ci_high
    #>      <dbl>    <dbl>    <dbl>
    #> 1 9971358. 9971322. 9971394.

### 2.4 Quantiles

Weighted age distribution of Nationscape respondents.

survey

    svyquantile(~age, ns_sv, quantiles = c(0.25, 0.5, 0.75), na.rm = TRUE)

    #> $age
    #>      quantile ci.2.5 ci.97.5        se
    #> 0.25       32     31      34 0.7651759
    #> 0.5        47     46      49 0.7651759
    #> 0.75       62     62      63 0.2550586
    #>
    #> attr(,"hasci")
    #> [1] TRUE
    #> attr(,"class")
    #> [1] "newsvyquantile"

srvyr

    ns_srvyr |>
      summarise(q = survey_quantile(age, c(0.25, 0.5, 0.75), na.rm = TRUE))

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 6
    #>   q_q25 q_q50 q_q75 q_q25_se q_q50_se q_q75_se
    #>   <dbl> <dbl> <dbl>    <dbl>    <dbl>    <dbl>
    #> 1    32    47    62    0.765    0.765    0.255

surveycore — Woodruff (1952) confidence intervals, guaranteed to respect the data range

    get_quantiles(ns_sc, age)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 3 × 5
    #>   quantile estimate ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <chr>       <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 p25            32     31      34  6422
    #> 2 p50            47     46      49  6422
    #> 3 p75            62     62      63  6422

### 2.5 Ratios

`api00` / `api99` is a natural ratio: Academic Performance Index in 2000 relative to 1999. We use `apisrs` here because it provides a clear probability design where the ratio estimator is unambiguous.

survey — positional argument order requires knowing which formula is numerator vs. denominator

    svyratio(~api00, ~api99, srs_sv)

    #> Ratio estimator: svyratio.survey.design2(~api00, ~api99, srs_sv)
    #> Ratios=
    #>          api99
    #> api00 1.051066
    #> SEs=
    #>             api99
    #> api00 0.003603991

srvyr

    srs_srvyr |> summarise(ratio = survey_ratio(api00, api99))

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 2
    #>   ratio ratio_se
    #>   <dbl>    <dbl>
    #> 1  1.05  0.00360

surveycore — named arguments make direction self-documenting

    get_ratios(srs_sc, numerator = api00, denominator = api99)

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 4
    #>   ratio ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1  1.05   1.04    1.06   200

`numerator =` / `denominator =` remove the ambiguity present in `svyratio(~y, ~x, design)`.

### 2.6 Correlations

Pearson correlation between Trump and Biden favorability (`cand_favorability_*` is a 1–4 scale; 999 codes respondents who haven’t heard enough — filtered below).

    # Pre-filter non-substantive responses before creating the design
    ns_corr <- ns_wave1[
      !is.na(ns_wave1$cand_favorability_trump) &
        ns_wave1$cand_favorability_trump != 999 &
        !is.na(ns_wave1$cand_favorability_biden) &
        ns_wave1$cand_favorability_biden != 999,
    ]
    ns_corr_sc <- as_survey_nonprob(ns_corr, weights = weight)

survey — matrix output, no confidence intervals

    ns_corr_sv <- svydesign(ids = ~1, weights = ~weight, data = ns_corr)
    jtools::svycor(~cand_favorability_trump + cand_favorability_biden, ns_corr_sv)

    #>                         cand_favorability_trump cand_favorability_biden
    #> cand_favorability_trump                    1.00                   -0.49
    #> cand_favorability_biden                   -0.49                    1.00

srvyr — no dedicated `survey_corr()` verb; users must fall back to `survey`

surveycore — long tibble with Fisher-Z confidence intervals (bounds guaranteed in [−1, 1])

    get_corr(ns_corr_sc, c(cand_favorability_trump, cand_favorability_biden))

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 9
    #>   var1         var2           r ci_low ci_high p_value statistic    df     n
    #>   <fct>        <fct>      <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl>   <dbl>     <dbl> <int> <int>
    #> 1 Donald Trump Joe Biden -0.495 -0.524  -0.464       0     -41.3  5276  5278

`svycor()` returns a matrix with no CIs. `get_corr()` returns a tidy tibble with Fisher-Z confidence intervals. srvyr has no `survey_corr()` verb at all — users fall back to `survey` directly.

## 3. Controlling Uncertainty Output

All surveycore analysis functions share a `variance` argument that controls which uncertainty columns appear. In `survey`, you call a separate function per metric. In `srvyr`, you repeat the `summarise()` call for each type.

survey — separate call per uncertainty type

    m <- svymean(~age, ns_sv, na.rm = TRUE)
    m                      # SE only in the estimate

    #>       mean     SE
    #> age 47.156 0.3956

    confint(m)             # CI — separate call

    #>        2.5 %   97.5 %
    #> age 46.38062 47.93123

    cv(m)                  # CV — separate call

    #>             age
    #> age 0.008388587

    svymean(~age, ns_sv, deff = TRUE, na.rm = TRUE) # DEFF — different return structure

    #>         mean       SE       DEff
    #> age 47.15593  0.39557 1.7637e+15

srvyr — one call per type; the variable is estimated multiple times

    ns_srvyr |>
      summarise(
        m_se   = survey_mean(age, vartype = "se",   na.rm = TRUE),
        m_ci   = survey_mean(age, vartype = "ci",   na.rm = TRUE),
        m_cv   = survey_mean(age, vartype = "cv",   na.rm = TRUE),
        m_deff = survey_mean(age, deff = TRUE,      na.rm = TRUE)
      )

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 10
    #>    m_se m_se_se  m_ci m_ci_low m_ci_upp  m_cv m_cv_cv m_deff m_deff_se
    #>   <dbl>   <dbl> <dbl>    <dbl>    <dbl> <dbl>   <dbl>  <dbl>     <dbl>
    #> 1  47.2   0.396  47.2     46.4     47.9  47.2 0.00839   47.2     0.396
    #> # ℹ 1 more variable: m_deff_deff <dbl>

surveycore — one call, any combination of metrics

    get_means(ns_sc, age, variance = c("se", "ci", "cv", "deff"))

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 7
    #>    mean    se      cv ci_low ci_high  deff     n
    #>   <dbl> <dbl>   <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <dbl> <int>
    #> 1  47.2 0.396 0.00839   46.4    47.9  3.47  6422

Set `variance = NULL` to return point estimates and sample counts only:

    get_means(ns_sc, age, variance = NULL)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 1 × 2
    #>    mean     n
    #>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1  47.2  6422

Available `variance` codes:

Code | What it returns
--- | ---
`"se"` | Standard error
`"ci"` | Confidence interval: `ci_low`, `ci_high`
`"var"` | Variance (SE²)
`"cv"` | Coefficient of variation (SE / estimate)
`"moe"` | Margin of error at `conf_level`
`"deff"` | Design effect (complex / SRS variance)

The `conf_level` argument controls the level for `"ci"` and `"moe"`. Default is `0.95`; for a 90% interval: `get_means(ns_sc, age, conf_level = 0.9)`.

## 4. Features With No survey / srvyr Equivalent

### 4.1 Automatic Value Labels

`ns_wave1` was imported with `haven` labels intact. surveycore resolves them automatically — no manual recoding required.

survey / srvyr — group column values are raw integer codes

    # pid3 values: 1, 2, 3, 4 — the reader must consult the codebook
    svyby(~discrimination_blacks, ~pid3, ns_sv, svymean, na.rm = TRUE)

    #>   pid3 discrimination_blacks         se
    #> 1    1              1.827663 0.03845797
    #> 2    2              3.044733 0.04709251
    #> 3    3              2.517407 0.05141302
    #> 4    4              2.360898 0.09929886

surveycore — “Democrat”, “Republican”, “Independent”, “Something else”

    get_means(ns_sc, discrimination_blacks, group = pid3)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 4 × 5
    #>   pid3            mean ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <fct>          <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 Democrat        1.83   1.75    1.90  2272
    #> 2 Republican      3.04   2.95    3.14  1805
    #> 3 Independent     2.52   2.42    2.62  1856
    #> 4 Something else  2.36   2.17    2.56   427

Opt out with `label_values = FALSE` to see raw codes:

    get_means(ns_sc, discrimination_blacks, group = pid3, label_values = FALSE)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 4 × 5
    #>    pid3  mean ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <dbl> <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1     1  1.83   1.75    1.90  2272
    #> 2     2  3.04   2.95    3.14  1805
    #> 3     3  2.52   2.42    2.62  1856
    #> 4     4  2.36   2.17    2.56   427

### 4.2 Multiple Variables in One Call

`ns_wave1` includes a battery of 13 news source items (`news_sources_facebook`, `news_sources_cnn`, …, `news_sources_other`). Analyzing all at once requires a loop in `survey` and `srvyr`; surveycore stacks them in a single call.

survey / srvyr — must loop; output is a list that the user binds manually

    news_vars <- c(
      "news_sources_facebook", "news_sources_cnn", "news_sources_fox",
      "news_sources_npr", "news_sources_new_york_times"
    )
    results_sv <- lapply(news_vars, function(v) {
      f <- as.formula(paste0("~", v))
      svymean(f, ns_sv, na.rm = TRUE)
    })
    # Results are a list — user must bind rows and add a name column manually
    do.call(rbind, lapply(seq_along(results_sv), function(i) {
      data.frame(name = news_vars[[i]], coef(results_sv[[i]]))
    }))

    #>                                                    name coef.results_sv..i...
    #> news_sources_facebook             news_sources_facebook              1.384971
    #> news_sources_cnn                       news_sources_cnn              1.599659
    #> news_sources_fox                       news_sources_fox              1.639275
    #> news_sources_npr                       news_sources_npr              1.862283
    #> news_sources_new_york_times news_sources_new_york_times              1.727273

surveycore — one call; a `name` column identifies each item; variable labels are applied automatically

    get_freqs(
      ns_sc,
      c(news_sources_facebook:news_sources_other)
    )

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 24 × 4
    #>    name                                   value   pct     n
    #>    <fct>                                  <chr> <dbl> <int>
    #>  1 Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) Yes   0.615  4187
    #>  2 Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) No    0.385  2235
    #>  3 CNN                                    Yes   0.400  2532
    #>  4 CNN                                    No    0.600  3890
    #>  5 MSNBC                                  Yes   0.266  1667
    #>  6 MSNBC                                  No    0.734  4755
    #>  7 Fox News (cable)                       Yes   0.361  2360
    #>  8 Fox News (cable)                       No    0.639  4062
    #>  9 Network news (ABC, CBS, NBC) or PBS    Yes   0.580  3711
    #> 10 Network news (ABC, CBS, NBC) or PBS    No    0.420  2711
    #> # ℹ 14 more rows

### 4.3 Minimum Cell Size Warnings

`survey` and `srvyr` return estimates for tiny cells silently — the user may not notice that a group has only 8 respondents. surveycore warns when any unweighted cell count falls below `min_cell_n` (default: 30).

    # Construct a design with deliberately small cells
    small_df <- data.frame(
      group = rep(c("A", "B", "C"), c(8, 15, 200)),
      x     = rnorm(223),
      w     = 1
    )
    small_svy <- surveycore::as_survey(small_df, weights = w)

    get_means(small_svy, x, group = group)

    #> Warning: ! 2 cells have fewer than 30 unweighted observations. Estimates in these cells
    #>   may be unreliable for public reporting (AAPOR guidance).

    #> # A tibble: 3 × 5
    #>   group    mean ci_low ci_high     n
    #>   <chr>   <dbl>  <dbl>   <dbl> <int>
    #> 1 A      0.281  -0.239  0.801      8
    #> 2 B      0.117  -0.350  0.583     15
    #> 3 C     -0.0925 -0.234  0.0492   200

Suppress the warning when small cells are expected:

    get_means(small_svy, x, group = group, min_cell_n = 0L)

### 4.4 Weighted Sample Size

In `survey` and `srvyr`, getting both the unweighted and estimated population count for each cell requires a separate `svytotal(~1, ...)` call. surveycore adds it with one argument:

survey — extra call for weighted N

    # Proportions by group (unweighted n not shown in output)
    svyby(~factor(consider_trump), ~pid3, ns_sv, svymean, na.rm = TRUE)

    #>   pid3 factor(consider_trump)1 factor(consider_trump)2
    #> 1    1               0.0500996               0.8873073
    #> 2    2               0.7749952               0.1281248
    #> 3    3               0.2384136               0.5662499
    #> 4    4               0.2090438               0.5703057
    #>   factor(consider_trump)999 se.factor(consider_trump)1
    #> 1                0.06259312                0.007599112
    #> 2                0.09688000                0.017249294
    #> 3                0.19533655                0.017201021
    #> 4                0.22065055                0.033161961
    #>   se.factor(consider_trump)2 se.factor(consider_trump)999
    #> 1                 0.01183081                  0.009518794
    #> 2                 0.01417166                  0.011797172
    #> 3                 0.02051542                  0.016804745
    #> 4                 0.03924281                  0.033059895

    # Estimated weighted N per group — requires a separate call
    svyby(~as.numeric(!is.na(consider_trump)), ~pid3, ns_sv, svytotal, na.rm = TRUE)

    #>   pid3 as.numeric(!is.na(consider_trump))       se
    #> 1    1                           2198.163 78.10298
    #> 2    2                           1784.745 69.80846
    #> 3    3                           1874.555 74.13607
    #> 4    4                            538.104 41.74667

surveycore — one argument

    get_freqs(ns_sc, consider_trump, group = pid3, n_weighted = TRUE)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    #> # A tibble: 12 × 5
    #>    pid3           consider_trump    pct     n n_weighted
    #>    <fct>          <fct>           <dbl> <int>      <dbl>
    #>  1 Democrat       Yes            0.0501   136       110.
    #>  2 Democrat       No             0.887   2042      1950.
    #>  3 Democrat       Don't know     0.0626   111       138.
    #>  4 Republican     Yes            0.775   1403      1383.
    #>  5 Republican     No             0.128    227       229.
    #>  6 Republican     Don't know     0.0969   183       173.
    #>  7 Independent    Yes            0.238    475       447.
    #>  8 Independent    No             0.566   1071      1061.
    #>  9 Independent    Don't know     0.195    316       366.
    #> 10 Something else Yes            0.209     73       112.
    #> 11 Something else No             0.570    272       307.
    #> 12 Something else Don't know     0.221     91       119.

The `n_weighted` column is the sum of weights within each cell — the estimated population size that cell represents.

### 4.5 Metadata-Rich Results (`.meta`)

surveycore attaches a `.meta` attribute to every result tibble. It contains the variable label, value labels, and question preface for each focal and grouping variable — everything needed to build a publication-ready table without consulting the codebook separately.

    result <- get_means(ns_sc, discrimination_blacks, group = pid3)

    #> Warning: ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.
    #> ! <survey_nonprob> object has no bootstrap replicate weights. Standard errors
    #>   use an SRS approximation that underestimates calibration uncertainty.
    #> ℹ Run `surveywts::create_bootstrap_weights()` on this design for correct SEs.

    # Variable label for the focal variable
    attr(result, ".meta")$x$discrimination_blacks$variable_label

    #> [1] "Blacks"

    # Value labels for the grouping variable
    attr(result, ".meta")$group$pid3$value_labels

    #>       Democrat     Republican    Independent Something else
    #>              1              2              3              4

In `survey` and `srvyr`, metadata is not attached to results — label information is lost after estimation.

## 5. Notable Differences

| survey | srvyr | surveycore
--- | --- | --- | ---
Output format | S3 `svystat` / matrix | Tibble with `_se`/`_low`/`_upp` suffix columns | S3 tibble subclass with CI columns by default
Interface | `~formula` throughout | Mixed: tidy constructor, formula in `summarise()` | Bare names throughout (tidy-select)
Value labels | Not applied | Not applied | Applied automatically from `haven` attributes
Multiple variables | Loop required | Loop required | `c(x, y, z)` in one call
Min-cell warning | None | None | Default `min_cell_n = 30L`
Weighted N | Separate call | Separate call | `n_weighted = TRUE`
Correlation CIs | None (`svycor()`) | No verb | Fisher-Z CIs via `get_corr()`
Non-probability design | No dedicated constructor | No dedicated constructor | `as_survey_nonprob()`
Manipulation | Pre/post construction | Bundled via pipe | `surveytidy` (companion package)
Runtime `survey` dep. | Is `survey` | Wraps `survey` | Vendored — `survey` not required

## 6. Function Reference Table

Task | survey | srvyr | surveycore
--- | --- | --- | ---
SRS design | `svydesign(ids=~1, ...)` | `as_survey_design(ids=1, ...)` | `as_survey(...)` (no `ids`/`strata`)
Stratified design | `svydesign(strata=~s, ...)` | `as_survey_design(strata=s, ...)` | `as_survey(..., strata=s)`
Cluster design | `svydesign(ids=~d, ...)` | `as_survey_design(ids=d, ...)` | `as_survey(..., ids=d)`
Replicate weights | `svrepdesign(repweights="regex")` | `as_survey_rep(repweights=matches(...))` | `as_survey_replicate(repweights=matches(...))`
Calibrated/NPS | `svydesign(weights=~w)` ⚠ | `as_survey_design(weights=w)` ⚠ | `as_survey_nonprob(...)`
Two-phase | `twophase(...)` | `as_survey_twophase(...)` | `as_survey_twophase(...)`
Weighted mean | `svymean(~x, d)` | `summarise(survey_mean(x))` | `get_means(d, x)`
Grouped mean | `svyby(~x, ~g, d, svymean)` | `group_by(g) \|> summarise(...)` | `get_means(d, x, group=g)`
Proportions | `svymean(~factor(x), d)` | `group_by(x) \|> summarise(survey_mean())` | `get_freqs(d, x)`
Total | `svytotal(~x, d)` | `summarise(survey_total(x))` | `get_totals(d, x)`
Population N | `svytotal(~1, d)` | `summarise(survey_total(1))` | `get_totals(d)`
Quantiles | `svyquantile(~x, d, q)` | `summarise(survey_quantile(x, q))` | `get_quantiles(d, x, probs=q)`
Ratio | `svyratio(~y, ~x, d)` | `summarise(survey_ratio(y, x))` | `get_ratios(d, numerator=y, denominator=x)`
Correlation | `svycor(~x+y, d)` ⚠ no CI | ✗ no verb | `get_corr(d, c(x, y))` with CI
Multiple variables | Loop + bind | Loop + bind | `get_means(d, c(x, y, z))`
Value labels | Manual recode | Manual recode | `label_values = TRUE` (default)
Min-cell warning | ✗ | ✗ | `min_cell_n = 30L` (default)
Weighted N | Separate call | Separate call | `n_weighted = TRUE`
Domain filter | `subset(d, cond)` | `filter(cond)` | `filter(cond)` (`surveytidy`)
Mutate | Modify df, recreate | `mutate(...)` | `mutate(...)` (`surveytidy`)
Group by | `svyby(...)` | `group_by(...)` | `group_by(...)` (`surveytidy`) or `group=` arg

⚠ = partial / workaround; ✗ = no equivalent

## 7. Learning More

- `vignette("getting-started")` — full surveycore overview with worked examples
- `vignette("creating-survey-objects")` — all five constructors, including two-phase designs and the `nest` argument
- srvyr comparison vignette — the original side-by-side that this vignette is modeled on
- Lumley (2010) — the definitive reference on complex survey analysis in R

Breslow, Norman E., and Kevin C. Cain. 1988. “Logistic Regression for Two-Stage Case-Control Data.” Biometrika 75 (1): 11–20. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/75.1.11.
Elliott, Michael R., and Richard Valliant. 2017. “Inference for Nonprobability Samples.” Statistical Science 32 (2): 249–64. https://doi.org/10.1214/16-STS598.
Lumley, Thomas. 2010. Complex Surveys: A Guide to Analysis Using R. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470580066.