Statistics Netherlands collects data from persons, companies and institutions, and uses this information to make statistics. To collect the data it has traditionally always used surveys. These surveys typically collect only data from a sample of the population under investigation. If this sample is selected in a scientifically justifiable way, reliable statements can be made about the population as a whole.
Through the years, Statistics Netherlands has built up a large amount of methodological expertise in the area of survey research. This expertise covers a wide range of topics, including sampling, questionnaire design, data collection, data editing, non-response correction and analysis of survey data.
The Survey Research Expertise Centre (in Dutch: Expertisecentrum voor Survey-Onderzoek, or ESO) has been set up to make survey knowledge and expertise available to other government researchers. They can contact ESO for advice about setting up and carrying out surveys.
What ESO does
- Short, quick questions about surveys will be answered by ESO free of charge.
- Comprehensive methodological survey support is possible in the form of a collaboration project.
- As a Statistical Authority, Statistics Netherlands observes the European Statistics Code of Practice. This Code obliges Statistics Netherlands to point out irresponsible use of surveys. If necessary, ESO will give unsolicited advice about survey research.
- ESO can provide practical training courses on survey research. These courses are intended for researchers who, as part of their job, want to acquire more understanding of survey methodology.
- ESO maintains a website explaining and illustrating elementary principles of survey research.
Contact
To contact ESO for support, e-mail eso@cbs.nl.