Survey Data Methodology

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The course offers various study sessions at Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the daily practice of designing, collecting and processing, primarily quantitative, data based on large-scale surveys and population registers. The students will get familiar with (complex) sampling designs and the fieldwork strategies, including the merits and problems of various mixed-mode data-collection methods by internet, telephone, paper and face-to-face interviews. Response rates will be studied, as well as weighting models to reduce the non-response bias. They will visit the telephone interviewer center, the big data room and the questionnaire laboratory. Furthermore, they will get familiar with the Social Statistical Database in which all register information and surveys based on the whole Dutch population are linked, and how this database serves as a tool for the production and dissemination of social statistics. Across country statistics based on the European Social Survey, the Labor Force Survey, Time-Use Survey, and EU-Statistics on Income and Living Conditions will be outlined, including the problems related to the harmonization of such surveys. The students will receive ample information on Eurostat, the European Statistical Office in Luxembourg. In addition the census taking, its requirements and assessments, in various countries will be demonstrated. All topics will be covered by lectures from statistical experts, followed by exploring research questions based on available databases.