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Survey errors and survey costs: a response to Timming’s critique of the Survey of Employees Questionnaire in WERS 2004

Author

Listed:
  • John Forth

    (National Institute of Economic and Social Research, j.forth@niesr.ac.uk)

  • Helen Bewley

    (National Institute of Economic and Social Research, h.bewley@niesr.ac.uk)

  • Alex Bryson

    (National Institute of Economic and Social Research and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics, a.bryson@niesr.ac.uk)

  • Gill Dix

    (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), gdix@acas.org.uk)

  • Sarah Oxenbridge

    (Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney, s.oxenbridge@econ.usyd.edu.au)

Abstract

A recent article in this journal provided a critique of the design of the Survey of Employees Questionnaire within the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey. The principal criticisms concerned the use of vague response categories, double-barrelled questions, needless ordinal measurements and the use of multiple binary items in place of ordinal or scalar measures. The critique highlighted some areas worthy of attention but we argue that, in other areas, it took insufficient account of the survey’s core objectives and of the practical and financial constraints guiding its design. We offer a broader assessment of sources of error within the WERS 2004 Survey of Employees.

Suggested Citation

  • John Forth & Helen Bewley & Alex Bryson & Gill Dix & Sarah Oxenbridge, 2010. "Survey errors and survey costs: a response to Timming’s critique of the Survey of Employees Questionnaire in WERS 2004," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(3), pages 578-590, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:24:y:2010:i:3:p:578-590
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017010371647
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John W. Budd & Karen Mumford, 2004. "Trade Unions and Family-Friendly Policies in Britain," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 57(2), pages 204-222, January.
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