Dependent Data Collection in ONS Business Surveys Jacqui Jones Methodology Directorate Office for National Statistics

Overview ONS Statutory Business Surveys the use of DDC some pros and cons of DDC

ONS Statutory Business Surveys 90+ Statutory Business Surveys 1,000+ data collection instruments mail out approximately 2.5 million paper questionnaires a year.

Samples rotating panel samples for businesses with under 10 employees continuous panel samples for large businesses

ONS Statutory Business Surveys TypeBusiness Prices & Sales e.g. Retail Sales Index Employment, Earnings & Productivity e.g. New Earnings Survey Financial & Accounting e.g. Insurance FrequencyMonthly Quarterly Annual Monthly Quarterly Annual Monthly Quarterly Annual ModePaper TDE Paper TDE Paper TDE - nils

The use of DDC paper questionnaires paper & TDE validation

DDC on paper self-completion questionnaires Producer Price Index: did provide back prices to respondents removed due to data quality and confidentiality issues

DDC on paper self-completion questionnaires New Earnings Survey feedback employee: -name -employee number -NI number -workplace postcode -home postcode

DDC in validation paper self-completion telephone data entry (TDE) web

Pros and Cons of DDC Pros: reduces respondent burden for paper self- completion reduces item non- response reduces operational costs of capture &/or coding Cons: increases respondent burden in validation increases measurement error? threatens the maintenance of data confidentiality

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