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LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ISSUES IN SURVEYS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. H. Van Oyen, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels S. Van Buuren, TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden J. van den Berg, Statistics on Health and Safety, Eurostat J. Bonte, Statistics on Health and Safety, Eurostat.
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LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ISSUES IN SURVEYS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION H. Van Oyen, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels S. Van Buuren, TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden J. van den Berg, Statistics on Health and Safety, Eurostat J. Bonte, Statistics on Health and Safety, Eurostat Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
EUROPEAN UNION 15 member states 11-plus languages 15-plus cultures and traditions Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
CONCEPT AND OPERATIONALISATION EU - input Concept Reference standard instruments Member state - input Reference standard instruments National Operational standard instruments EU / Member state - output Conversion techniques Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (LFS) • Harmonised EU wide survey • Monitor labour force development • Based on regulations : compulsary for MS • 2002 module : disability Agreement on the content Standard list of items – variables and codes (EU-regulation) Agreement on: description of variables coding instructions standard questionnaire Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS: content and structure of module Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS: Specification of the 2002 ad hoc module on employment of disabled people Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS: Explanatory notes - description of variable The first variable introduces the topic of a health problem and it is this variable along with its impact which are used as the statistic for setting clear goals and targets for the employment of disabled people. Thus one can look at the distribution of disabled people according to their economic activity by age, sex and, where appropriate, type of employment. Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS: Explanatory notes - instructions • Interviewing : Longstanding Coverage of health problems • Coding : Single event, continuous health problem Recurrent or episodic conditions Terminal illness or outcome dependent on treatment Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS: Reference questionnaire Introductory text to be read out by interviewer: ‘The following few questions are about your health in relation to work. What people can do at work is often dependent on their health. Some people may have physical health problems or disabilities such as heart problems, respiratory problems, or difficulties in walking; others may have sight or hearing problems even wearing glasses or hearing aids, whereas others may have psychological or emotional problems. Health problems also include such illnesses as diabetes, dyslexia, epilepsy, problems with digestion as well as skin complaints’. Variable 1, Column 220. Do you have any longstanding health problem or disability? Interviewer: by longstanding we mean anything that has affected R over the past 6 months, or that is likely to affect R for at least 6 months. (If no: end module) Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
LFS NATIONAL OPERATIONAL STANDARD At national level the operational questionnaires needs some adapation in order to reflect the real concept and meaning of the agreed reference questionnaire Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
RESPONSE CONVERSION Comparing data in several circumstances • Items on same topic having different formulation • New items replacing old one, causing trend gap • Items with identical formulation but subject to cultural response biases Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
1 2 3 Define measure of interest Convert to common scale Estimate conversion key once repeatedly STEPS IN RESPONSE CONVERSION Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
WHY RESPONSE CONVERSION? • Works on existing data • Cost-effective • Assumptions can be tested • Well-established mathematical framework • Indicators on interval scale • Activities can be separated into routines Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002
CONCLUSION Developmental work both at the input and output • Input : content / items (conceptual description) reference instrument operational instrument • Output : statistical tools e.g. response conversion Washington City Group on Disability Statistics February 18-20, 2002