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National surveys

Survey methodology

Sampling strategy

Most surveys apply a representative sample of persons in employment. The main basic sampling frame used are business registers, population registers, residence registers, population census, register of statistical office. Another procedure is to elaborate a sample from the sample used in the 'Labour Force Survey' or as in the case of the German 'Microcensus', which include the Labour Force Survey.

The predominant sampling strategy is stratified random sampling. Other methods are random sampling, clustered random sampling, quota sampling.

In the 'European Working Conditions Survey' (EWCS) the sample follows a multi-stage, stratified and clustered design with a random walk procedure for the selection of respondents. The 'Quality of Life and Working Conditions' survey in Bulgaria applies a representative two-stage cluster sampling technique. The Canadian 'Labour Force Survey' (LFS) uses a probability sample that is based on a stratified multi-stage design. The German 'Socio-Economic Panel' (SOEP) consists of several subsamples started between 1984 and 2002. Each of these subsamples is based on a multi-stage random sampling process. The US 'Work Orientation Study' of International Social Survey Program uses a multi-stage, area probability sample of households.

Page last updated: 17 December, 2007