The International Community Foundation’s survey included both quantitative and qualitative methods. First, a thorough literature review of tourism- and retireerelated literature on Mexico was undertaken. The research also included a thorough review of government statistics from multiple sources (U.S. State Department, INEGI, Mexican Migration Institute, and OECD) to assess the size of the population of U.S. citizens in the Republic of Mexico. Based on these data sources, the Foundation estimates that there is a permanent and floating population of U.S. residents in Mexican coastal communities of 200,000- 300,000.

In addition, between August 1 and November 15, 2009, the International Community Foundation carried out a survey utilizing purposive sampling (snowball) technique to secure participation and a representative sampling of U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents 50 years of age and older residing in Mexico either on a full-time or part-time basis. For the study in question, a total of 1,003 individuals elected to participate, responding either using an online survey tool or printed questionnaires. Survey respondents self-identified their “adopted communities” as Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Quintana Roo (among other locations). Once the participants were filtered to include only the targeted profile, a total of 842 surveys were able to be used (76%). If it is assumed that some degree of random participation was achieved amongst the target group, results would reflect a confidence level of 95% +/- 3.4%.

Concurrent with the Foundation’s literature review, survey, and subsequent analysis, five focus groups were organized between August- December 2009 in Rosarito, Baja California (BC); La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS); East Cape, BCS; San José de Cabo, BCS; and Todos Santos, BCS. Each focus group consisted of 10 to 15 participants all of which were selfidentified U.S. retirees living in Mexico. The focus group sessions were 2 hours in duration, allowing the Foundation to assess the viewpoints of participants on a wide range of issues impacting the U.S. retiree community in Mexico. For their participation in the focus groups, each participant and their spouse were invited to a lunch hosted by the Foundation. To avoid a possible sample bias, spouses were asked not to participate in the focus group sessions.

A thorough discussion of the research methodology is available at:
http://www.icfdn.org/publications/retireeresearch/?page_id=192.

References
A full reference list is available at: http://www.icfdn.org/publications/retireeresearch/?page_id=169.