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Web Survey Bibliography

Title New developments in survey methodology for official statistics
Year 2009
Access date 18.11.2009
Abstract

National statistical institutes have to satisfy an ever growing demand for statistical information. At the same time, they face new challenges like increasing nonresponse rates, decreasing budgets, and demands for reducing the response burden. This may lead to new ways of conducting surveys. Some of these new developments are discussed in this paper.

Increasing nonresponse affects the representativity of survey data, and therefore the quality of survey outcomes. A new indicator (the R-indicator) is described that measures the representativity of survey response. Such an indicator can be a useful additional indicator for survey quality. It may be applied during the fieldwork of the survey to focus data collection efforts. It may also be useful to compare a survey over time, or to compare surveys in different countries.

National statistical offices have to produce reliable and accurate statistics. This is often done with face-to-face or telephone surveys to collect the data that form the basis for these statistics. This is an expensive way of survey data collection, but experience has shown that it is necessary in order to obtain high quality data. Now that many these offices are faces with reduced budgets, web surveys may offer a less costly alternative. This type of survey becomes increasingly popular, but also has its methodological drawbacks. The question is addressed whether web surveys can be used effectively in official statistics, whether as a single mode survey, or as one of the modes in a mixed-mode surveys.

A mixed-mode survey may also be a means to reduce nonresponse rates. Response behaviour may depend on the data collection mode. By approaching people with the mode most fit for them, they may be more inclined to respond. Responsive survey designs aim at altering the data collection procedures during the fieldwork. These could mean focusing fieldwork on a specific group with a specific mode. Such an approaching requires information on the progress of the fieldwork. Paradata are required for this. This stresses the increasingly important role of paradata.

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Year of publication2009
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
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Web survey bibliography - Bethlehem, J. (21)