Paper #1036

Title:

Improving social measurements: The experience of the ESS first rounds in Spain

Authors:

Anna Cuxart and Clara Riba

Date:

May 2007

Abstract:

With the two aims of monitoring social change and improving social measurement, the European Social Survey is now closing its third round. This paper shows how the accumulated experience of the two first rounds has been used to validate the questionnaire, better adapt the sampling design to the country characteristics and efficiently commit fieldwork in Spain. For example, the dynamic character of the population nowadays makes necessary to estimated design effects at each round from the data of the previous round. The paper also demonstrates how, starting with a response rate of 52% at first round, a 66% response rate is achieved at the third round thanks to an extensive quality control conducted by the polling agency and the ESS national team and based on a detailed analysis of the non-response cases and the incidences reported by the interviewed in the contact form.

Keywords:

European social survey, fieldwork, response rate, sampling design

JEL codes:

C42

Area of Research:

Statistics, Econometrics and Quantitative Methods

Published in:

Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas (Reis), Nº 125, 2009, pp.147-168
With the title:
Mejorando a partir de la experiencia: implementación de la tercera ola de la ESE en España

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