The course deals with the steps in the statistical investigation for official statistics.
The course includes the specification of needs, design issues, building process components, data collection, data processing, analysis, dissemination, evaluation and quality management.
The course covers these process steps: quality in statistical systems, quality management, data collection, data processing, quality evaluation, nonresponse, disclosure control, and seasonal adjustment.
The textbooks will be indicated at the beginning of the lessons.
Learning Objectives
The student should be able to:
- describe methodological aspects of the European Statistical System
- be responsible for conducting a statistical survey
- evaluate possibilities for rationalizing and improvement and analysing process data for this purpose
- design coordinated statistical systems consisting of many different data collections and aiming at giving a complete picture of different areas and satisfying the needs of different user groups
- present statistics and databases in a way that gives a good description of the geographical dispersion and quality of data in different circumstances
- evaluate integrity risks and design the data collection/survey and presentation in a way so that the informants are not unnecessarily burdened and adequately protected.
Prerequisites
It is recommended the basic knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Teaching Methods
Teaching forms mainly consist of lectures, exercises and computer sessions.
Use of e-learning platform Moodle where, in particular, will be upload the teaching materials.
Further information
The course is in collaboration with ISTAT. Some lectures and seminars will be taught by researchers ISTAT.
Type of Assessment
The final exam is designed to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills through a written testing (or an essay and his presentation) and an oral examination. The final score is composed by the results of both. The minimum score is 18/30.
Course program
Institutions and organization of statistical systems:
• European statistical system.
• Official statistics in Italy.
• International institutions.
Methods of data collection in official statistics:
• Modern approaches in survey methodology and censuses.
• Use of administrative sources.
• Integration of data from different sources.
• Specifics of data collection by domain.
Data processing in official statistics:
• Editing and estimation.
• Imputation
Dissemination of official statistics:
• Communication channels.
• Statistical disclosure control.
• Metadata.