1. Support for design of statistical surveys at Statistics Sweden
Eva Elvers Process Department
Statistics Sweden (SCB)

2. Outline Design Statistics production Support A process support system
A guide for design
Communication and implementation
Development
Discussion

3. Design – and context
Statistics production: based on a statistical survey
or more than one survey
Generic Statistical Business Process Model, UNECE
Situations:
New survey
Re-design
Continuous improvements for an ongoing survey

4. Statistics production process ~ a statistical survey (one or more)
Evaluate and feed back 8
Specify
needs 1
Design
and
plan 2
Build
and
test 3
Collect 4
Process 5
Analyse 6
Disseminate
and
communicate 7
Support and infrastructure

5. Statistics production process – two levels
Specify
needs 1
Design
and
plan 2
Build
and
test 3
Collect 4
Process 5
Analyse 6
Disseminate
and
communicate 7
Identify information
needs and availability
1.1
Design
end product
2.1
Build
collection
instrument
3.1
Generate frame and
register population
4.1
Classify and
code microdata
5.1
Produce
statistics
6.1
Prepare
dissemination
7.1
Identify customers
1.2
Design frame,
register population
and sample
2.2
Build and
adapt
tools
3.2
Select
sample
4.2
Edit
microdata
5.2
Edit
macrodata
6.2
Compile
end product
7.2
Establish
customer contact
1.3
Design data
collection
2.3
Build
workflow
3.3
Set up
data collection
4.3
Impute for
nonresponse
5.3
Carry out
disclosure control
6.3
Disseminate end
product to customer
7.3
Confirm
information needs
1.4
Design processing
2.4
Test
collection
instrument
3.4
Run
data collection
4.4
Complement
microdata
5.4
Finalise
observation register
6.4
Communicate
end product
7.4
Negotiate and
contract
1.5
Design analysis
2.5
Test tools
and workflow
3.5
Transfer and store
data electronically
4.5
Calculate
weights
5.5
Interpret and
explain
6.5
Dispose and
preserve
7.5
Design dissemination
and communication
2.6
Conduct
pilot study
3.6
Finalise outputs
for dissemination
6.6
Design workflow
2.7
Initiate
workflow
3.7
Plan production cycle
2.8

6. Process support system
This system contains descriptions of processes
The tree of sub-processes varies in detail;
from level 2 down to level 5 (a few cases)
Input
Process description – character varies
Output
Contacts
Latest update occasion

7. Standardisation and process description
Different types and ways of standardisation
IT-tools
Templates
Checklists – character varies
Detailed activities, step-by-step
Tasks to be done, without /precise/ instructions
Issues to consider
For a survey/product: a mixture of standards and survey/product adaption

8. Guide at SCB: Design of statistical surveys
Main contents:
Starting points for design and planning some basic concepts and reasoning, intro for the survey manager
Customer (user) contacts specifications, concepts, deliverables, contacts under way, ...
Preparatory actions
Trade-off examples (next)
Design the IT-solution
References

9. Guide to design: Trade-off examples
Different choices, different error sources, errors and costs
mixed mode: questionnaires, respondents, follow-up
response rate: bias, group strategy, ‘easy’ responses
data collection method: content, time, costs
comparability and accuracy – when there are changes
balance together with customer
pilot study

10. Communication and implementation
Communication – two ways!
Courses, seminars
Networks, visits
Feedback, suggestions
Situation to consider
New survey
Re-design
Continuous improvements
Support – additional
Maintenance model with roles, planning, ...
Model on test, ...
Design teams recommended

11. Development directions
Guide on
choices and intensities (what and how much)
overall perspective (the last €)
Quality and costs
more process data needed
Optimisation – or a structured procedure
Can everything be measured in one way?
Rather multi-facetted: quality components and costs
Certain conditions/restrictions
Then: some optimisation (often accuracy involved)
More knowledge → better support

12. Discussion
The process support system is somewhat like a handrail. The guide complements through suggestions and thoughts. More communication, examples, process data
Furthermore:
Suitable procedure for successive choices Responsive design, in simple form
More connections
Quality assurance and quality control
Architecture
Build and test: collection instrument, tools, workflow