Core variables in Estonian social surveys Merle Paats

Statistics Estonia

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Content of presentation

Core variables Background National variables

Implementation of core variables Adaptation of questions Implementation in social surveys Handbook Core variables in CAPI

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Background

For harmonisation of social surveys and for better possibilities of data analysing, Eurostat started to work with core variables in social surveys already in 1996. This was first task for me, when I started to work in Statistics Estonia 2002 Implementation of core variables in surveys in Statistics Estonia started in 2006 and core variables were included in all surveys since 2009 in accordance with the published final report of TF in 2007 Core variables were supplemented with country-specific national variables

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Core variables at national level

Residence on a more detailed level: counties Health situation according to health minimodule (also included in EU-SILC) Living conditions of the household: owner of the dwelling, type of the dwelling, construction year, size of the dwelling, water and sewage conditions, washing conditions in dwelling, heating possibilities Ownership of durable goods: phone, mobile, TV, internet connection, car, washing machine, computer, refrigerator, DVD system, dishwasher

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Core variables at national level (2)

Household’s assessment of socioeconomic situation Ethnicity First domestic language Work related questions for using the socio-economic classification (EsEC) Level of education completed and currently obtained broken down into more detail than ISCED scale

Core variables at national level are optional and depend on the main purpose of the survey.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Implementation of core variables

Comparing the surveys: Questionnaires Variables Rules: regulations and recommendations

Discussion with partners and data users Presentation of the core variables idea to the Scientific Board of Social Statistics Results: handbook and common rules for interviewers

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Adaptation of questions Questions for deriving the demographic and geographic variables and occupation and economic sector were already same in all social surveys.

Remark: for country of birth exception is used: the national boundaries at the time of interview should be used (Final Report p 22). Because of history of Estonia and the changes in territory after 1945, the additional code and following remark is used for data collection: If person was born in the former territories of the Estonian republic that no longer belong to Estonia the code “The former Estonian territory of Petserimaa or the areas behind river Narva” has to be use.

List of answers in questions about self-declared labour status and status in employment varied from survey to survey. The same questions were prepared for all surveys.

Remark: problem with household type according to economic activity in LFS. Is not allowed ask self-declared labour status before working according to ILO definition. Because of this the self-declared question is only in personal questionnaire.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Adaptation of questions: income For adaptation the income variable the HBS 2006 and 2007 income data was analysed: household income based on diary and self-assessment were compared. The difference appeared as it was expected:

Difference was on average less than 10%. Usually the income based on self-assessment was higher than

income based on diary Difference between household income deciles based on diary and

based on self-assessment appeared in 40% of households, but it was bigger than I decile in less than 10% of households

It was decided to use one question and income intervals for refusers for core variable. Income will only be used as a classificatory variable – i.e. as deciles and not as a pricise amount

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Adaptation of questions: education Highest level of education according to ISCED was the most problematic variable because of several reforms of education system in Estonia. Questions were developed based on requirements for different educational level. Two types of questions were developed: for calculating the highest level of education on detailed level and on main groups: I level, II level and III level. The questions were tested in Household Survey and the results were subsequently compared with other surveys.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Implementation of ESeC We do not have national classification for socio-economic situation The classification ESeC is used as a first step in analysing this area Statistics Estonia does not use this variable for analysing the data One of the main user of social surveys: Institute of International and Social Studies is very interested in this variable The questions for deriving this variable are being worked out.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Implementation in surveys All European core variables are included in the following Estonian social surveys (2009, 2010):

EU-SILC (Estonian Social Survey) HBS (Household Budget Survey) TUS (Time Use Survey) Household Survey (includes tourism module) Victim and Violence Survey LFS (Labour Force Survey) with exception of

income variable. ICT module is included in LFS II quarter, during the II quarter also income variable is included in LFS.

Working Conditions Survey

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Implementation in surveys: problems Problem appeared with SES (Structure of earnings survey) because the data collection is based on enterprises. The following variables cannot be collected:

Country of birth Country of citizenship Marital status Household composition Degree of urbanisation Self-declared labour status (working student) Income

Census is not decided yet.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Handbook of core variables

Handbook of core variables was published at the end of last year. Contents of handbook:

Background Core Variables with definition, recommended

questions for collecting and manual Questionnaires – also in English The derivation rules – also in English. (NB! Have

not yet been completely tested, NACE rules have not yet been updated)

Logical checks

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Questionnaires

Questions for collecting the core variables are the same in all social surveys. Optional (national) variables can be dropped if necessary Interviewer’s manual for collecting the core variables is the same in all social surveys The Blaise program for different social surveys uses the same common part of core variables program. When the questions for collecting the optional variables are dropped, this is specified in the program.

Merle PaatsMay 2009

Future steps

Will implement the core variables derivation rules and will add these variables to microdata bases of all surveys. Will start to use the core variables in analyzing the data Will start a methodological study to combine the samples of all surveys. Calculate a new weight variable for this combined database, with an aim of using this larger database for more detailed analysis.