1. Dependent interviewing on ONS household surveys Rob Bumpstead Office For National Statistics

2. Surveys covered in presentation Labour Force Survey (LFS) –Large, well established UK household survey –Using computer-assisted dependent interviewing since 1991 Continuous Population Survey (CPS) –Proposed new integrated survey, incorporating LFS and other surveys using dependent interviewing –Provisional start date January 2008

3. Labour Force Survey family Labour Force Survey (LFS) –Quarterly panel survey –Rotating panel design of 5 waves –C. 55,000 households per quarter Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey (ALALFS) –Annual panel survey –Rotating panel design of 4 waves –C. 90,000 households per annum

4. How we use dependent interviewing - a variety of approaches QLFS –All previous responses ‘fed forward’ –Majority questions proactive DI e.g Household roster, qualifications and employment history, travel to work, occupation and industry, earnings –Recent time-bounded questions use reactive DI e.g Current employment, job search, training ALALFS –Smaller portion of responses fed-forward e.g Household roster, qualifications, occupation and industry,

5. Why we use dependent interviewing - pros and cons Reduces overall measurement error by reducing false rates of change and misdating of status changes Improves interview efficiency Reduces respondent burden Some increase in measurement error by suppressing true rates of change and encouraging cognitive satisficing More problematic with proxy respondents Greater resource demands

6. Aims of the CPS development project To develop a world class modular social survey system as an integral part of the ONS modernisation programme by January 2008 To deliver better quality, more reliable estimates at national, regional and sub- regional levels To produce more outputs more regularly and coherently on which government and stakeholders can better base decisions

7. ONS surveys for integration Labour Force Survey (LFS) –including annual boosts (ALALFS) Annual Population Survey (APS) General Household Survey (GHS) Expenditure & Food Survey (EFS) Omnibus Survey (OMN) Scope for other surveys to join CPS after 2008

8. CPS main features A common framework for the 5 continuous household surveys on which ONS leads single modular survey instrument single sample of addresses with different combinations of modules allocated to each address single integrated field force with interviewers able to administer all types of interview combinations Formal consultation document and other information available on ONS web-site

9. CPS Instrument design A common core module of questions administered to all respondents in sample Topic modules of questions administered to portions of respondents in sample Core and topic modules combined to construct a number of different viable interview combinations

11. Standardise approach across CPS interview combinations and other ONS household surveys Development of more scripted proactive dependent interviewing instruments Development of more automated reactive dependent interviewing instruments Some issues in dependent interviewing under consideration at ONS

12. Dependent interviewing on ONS household surveys Any Questions ? www.statistics.gov.uk/cps