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A National Statistics Publication for Scotland

Steven Hope, Ipsos MORI Scotland
Julia Hall, National Centre for Social Research

ISBN 978 0 7559 1796 9 (Web only publication)

This document is also available in pdf format (308k)

Contents

1 Survey overview
1.1 Background to the SHS

2 Sample design, selection and allocation
2.1 Stratification by local authority
2.2 Clustered and unclustered sampling
2.3 Allocating sample to different time periods
2.4 Allocating sample between contractor organisations and questionnaire modules
2.5 Sampling from the Postcode Address File
2.6 Multiple dwellings
2.7 Respondent selection

3 Data collection methods and instruments
3.1 Use of Computer Aided Personal Interviewing ( CAPI)
3.2 Questionnaire development and changes
3.3 Questionnaire structure, length and content
3.4 Problems and errors in the survey scripts
3.5 Survey fieldwork

4 Fieldwork targets and outcomes
4.1 Sample performance
4.2 Fieldwork performance

5 Weighting
5.1 Design weighting
5.2 No additional corrective weighting

6 Limitations of the data
6.1 Quarterly data for Scotland as a whole

7 Bias and data quality

8 Survey design factors and complex standard errors

List of Tables

Table 2.1: Projected two-year achieved sample size by local authority and SRS equivalent sample over target periods
Table 2.2: Procedure for allocating PSUs by month of fieldwork
Table 4.1: Deadwood rate assumptions and actual deadwood
Table 4.2: Summary of outcomes at issued addresses for 2007 sample
Table 4.3: Trends in SHS response rates 1999 to 2007
Table 4.4: Household interview targets and numbers achieved in each local authority, 2007
Table 4.5: Random adult ( RA) response rates, 2007
Table 5.1: Weights to account for disproportionate sampling and differences in household response rates by local authority and quarter, 2007
Table 5.2: Weights to account for disproportionate sampling and differences in random adult response rates by local authority and quarter, 2007
Table 7.1: Comparison of household types in the 2001 Census and the 2007 SHS
Table 7.2: Comparison of housing variables in the 2001 Census and the 2007 SHS
Table 7.3: Comparison of weighted and unweighted age and sex profile of 2007 SHS data with 2001 Census estimates
Table 7.4: Comparison of key variables relating to driving and transport
Table 7.5: Comparison of all Scottish households, all sampled households, all eligible households and participating households by urban rural classification
Table 7.6: Urban rural classification of eligible addresses and participating households
Table 7.7: Comparison of economic activity variables among adults of working age
Table 8.1: Design factors and confidence intervals for key variables in 2007 data

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