Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Data Description and Technical Notes
The data in the NJ Behavioral Risk Factor query module come from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Survey, administered by the New Jersey Department of Health.
- The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NJBRFS) is an ongoing health survey of New Jersey residents aged 18+ regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services.*
- CDC's PLACES Project provides city- and census tract-level BRFSS data at county, municipality, census tract, and ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA) levels for all areas with a population of at least 50 residents.
Survey Sample
The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is a survey of non-institutionalized New Jersey adults aged 18 and over conducted using scientific telephone survey methods. Excluded are adults living in group quarters such as college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, and prisons. (Individuals who cannot conduct the interview in English or Spanish have also been excluded from the survey since it began in 1991, and cell phone interviewing did not begin until 2011.)2018 Data Caveat
The NJBRFS query module contains incomplete data for 2018; data for the NJBRFS project were collected from January to March and October to November only and by two different survey companies. Additionally, supplemental data were received from other state BRFSS programs which conducted interviews throughout the year among New Jersey residents as part of a reciprocity agreement. Although the data meet minimum requirements to be included in the national BRFSS public-use data set, please consider the differences in collection when comparing estimates across years.BRFSS Methodology Changes in 2011
Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process.These methodological changes were implemented to account for the under-representation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones.
Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution.
More details about these changes are available from the CDC:
- Methodologic Changes in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2011 and Potential Effects on Prevalence Estimates
- Full MMWR Report
*The New Jersey Department of Education administers a biannual Student Health Survey of health risks and related behaviors among New Jersey high school students based on CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey.