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Register-based sample surveys in practice

Coordinator 1Dr Hafsteinn Einarsson (University of Iceland)
Coordinator 2Mr Kim Backström (Åbo Akademi)

Session Details

Interest in utilising administrative data sources in survey practice has grown in recent years. Many countries are providing greater access to administrative register data which may contain valuable information for improving survey outcomes. In many European countries, data from various registers can also be linked with survey data at the individual level, which holds the potential for producing rich sample frame data. We encourage submissions of papers which focus on utilising administrative register data to increase quality in any aspect of survey practice, including in:

1. Informing survey design and fieldwork efforts. For instance, how can register data inform sampling strategies, questionnaire design, when and how to contact sampled units, survey modes offered, and how to reduce survey costs?

2. Evaluating and minimising total survey error. For instance, are register variables associated with unit nonresponse and measurement errors? Are there noticeable trends in these associations over time and are adjustments informed by these variables effective in error minimisation?

3. Under which circumstances should researchers rely on register data rather than survey data and vice versa? For instance, can register information replace survey items (e.g. receipt of benefits) and thus reduce response burden? Can survey responses be used to correct register errors?

4. Any other topics relating to utilising register data in survey practice, such as linkage, privacy, statistical disclosure control, how can national statistical institutes increase access to register data or enrich survey data with register information, etc.