Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - Volume 21, issue 1

Authors: Podehl, W. Martin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Client orientation has always been part of the necessary culture of National Statistical Offices. Continuously seeking improvements to services is key so that citizens are satisfied with the information services provided and that they perceive their National Statistical Office as a relevant organisation.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21101

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1-6, 2004

Authors: Dickinson, Teresa | Tam, Siu-Ming

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes how the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia's National Statistics Office, is using the balanced scorecard to measure client servicing for its four client segments. This has required some adaptation of the scorecard dimensions to suit the particular circumstances of this organisation, although the four key areas of balanced scorecard measurement, namely financial, clients, staff and process are retained. The paper also presents information about the overall ABS approach to client servicing, some results of the measurements and the setting of client servicing performance targets.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21102

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 7-16, 2004

Authors: Kotkavuori, Jouni

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Statistical stories can paint an integrated picture in two ways. The writer can draw conclusions ready for the reader or put statistics side by side and let the reader draw his or her own conclusions. Both ways require analysis from the writer's part; the latter only respects the reader more, but also requires more of him or her. Different kinds of stories need different channels. Official numbers need official channels, but statistical experts, at least the best of them, know more than can be put under the tag “official statistics”. Statistics Finland wants to serve the tax payers and the …media by giving them, not only the official numbers, but also the unofficial understanding of what the numbers mean. In making a clear distinction between the official and unofficial the old-fashioned print magazine is quite a good medium. There is no ready formula for a good statistical story, but ideas could travel: a story line from one country could be adapted to another. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21103

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 17-22, 2004

Authors: de Bruin, Agnes | Kardaun, Jan | Gast, Fred | de Bruin, Edie | van Sijl, Marije | Verweij, Gerard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes the first-time linking by Statistics Netherlands of the hospital discharge register (HDR), held by Prismant, with the population register (PR). This linkage is the first step in building an integrated population-based health statistics dataset at individual level, using existing register data as much as possible. The linkage of the HDR with the PR has proved to be successful: 87.6% of the HDR records could be uniquely linked to a person record in the PR, 8.7% were multiply linked, and 3.6% of the records could not be linked. The multiple linkages are a natural result of the limited …resolution power of the linkage key (date of birth, sex, postal code). The 3.6% non-linkages are also plausible, given a rate of approximately 2% administrative errors in both registers. The quality of the linkage was further studied by estimating the level of mismatches (false positive linkages): this rate was estimated to be in the order of magnitude of approximately 1%, and in any case less than 3%. It was concluded that the linkage of the Dutch HDR with the PR is of good quality and that it forms an adequate basis for statistical analyses. Show more

Keywords: record linkage, registers, hospital admissions, population data, methods, quality

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21104

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 23-32, 2004

Authors: Körner, Thomas | Nimmergut, Anja

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Voluntary household surveys are currently faced with a number of serious challenges. These challenges include the increasing reluctance to participate in surveys, the necessity to use probability sampling as a standard practice, and the steadily growing demand for statistical information. It is argued that new approaches of survey design have to be developed in order to cope with this problem. Establishing an access panel of households ready to respond in surveys constitutes one possible solution: According to the access panel concept, households having participated in surveys based on highly reliable random samples of official statistics (like the German …microcensus) should be recruited for regular participation in voluntary surveys of official statistics. These households “ready to respond” are included in the access panel, which then would be available as a sampling frame for random samples. The general readiness of these households to co-operate with official statistics would permit to achieve relatively high response rates. At the same time, it would be possible to react more flexibly than in the past to new data demand. This contribution outlines the concept of an access panel in official statistics and summarises the most important results of a large-scale pilot study carried out in the German statistical system from late 2000 to 2003. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21105

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 33-52, 2004

Authors: Luzi, Orietta | Shlomo, Natalie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper contains an analytic summary of the content of the session Editing by respondents and data suppliers of the UNECE Work Session on Statistical Data Editing (SDE) held at the National Statistical Institute of Spain, Madrid in October 2003. The aim of the session was to collect information about recent trends in data editing. Statistical agencies are changing their traditional view on editing as a post-data collection phase under the control of survey methodologists. Instead, they are moving some of the editing processes to the respondents and data suppliers to prevent and eliminate errors. The session focused on the …integration and optimisation of data editing in the collection phase, and the harmonisation of editing processes performed at both the data capturing and data editing stages by balancing expected levels of quality, time and available resources. The session also considered data editing when administrative or external sources of data are used for statistical purposes. A new “mixed” perspective is emerging where editing and imputation is spread over the entire survey process. In particular, the paper concentrates on the following aspects: evaluating data editing effectiveness when editing is spread over different survey phases; managing survey processes when multiple sources of information (statistical or administative) are used; rationalizing survey processes when different modes of data collection are combined; and improving cooperation with data providers. Show more

Keywords: editing and imputation, electronic data collection, external and administrative data, mixed editing strategies

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21106

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 53-65, 2004

Authors: Revilla, Pedro | González, Manuel | González, Margarita | Quesada, José

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper discusses the role of reporting enterprises in data editing. The approach followed is that of Total Quality Management (TQM). Hence, suppliers and customers are part of the productive system and a global strategy is needed for an efficient data editing. Some prerequisites to get high quality incoming data are discussed. The paper presents two aspects where reporting enterprises may play an active role in data editing: Web surveys and an “auditing system" carried out by the reporting enterprises. The experiences in Spanish industrial surveys are also presented.

Keywords: EDR, web surveys, total quality management (TQM)

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21107

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 67-74, 2004

Authors: Wein, Elmar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The widespread use of information technology and the Internet allow statisticians to improve the data collection process. The following article explores the opportunities for statisticians to upgrade the data collection instruments in order to improve the plausibility of data. In addition, it considers the strengths and weaknesses of the different measures and provides proposals for their use. Special attention will be given to the use of Internet questionnaires.

Keywords: data collection, data delivery, data editing, electronic questionnaire, secondary statistics, plausibility, checks

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21108

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 75-84, 2004

Article Type: Other

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-21109

Citation: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 85-85, 2004