On estimating distribution functions and quantiles from survey data using auxiliary information

SUMMARY Ratio and difference estimators of a population distribution function under a general sampling design are obtained, using auxiliary population information. The relative mean errors and relative mean square errors of these estimators and a model-based estimator of Chambers & Dunstan (1986) are compared through a simulation study. The advantages of the design-based estimators over the model-based estimator under model misspecifications, especially for large samples, are demonstrated. Ratio and difference estimators of a population quantile are also studied.