WERS98 Data Dissemination Service

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Obtaining documentation and data

1.  How do I obtain documentation about WERS98, such as copies of the survey questionnaires?

2. How do I obtain the WERS98 data?

3. How do I obtain the restricted data files?

4. How do I obtain linked data from the Annual Business Inquiry (Census of Production)?

Survey of Employees

1. Why do the frequency tables from the Survey of Employees data file have an unweighted base of 28,215 cases when the publicly available data file contains 28,240 cases?

2. Why did the Survey of Employees use a fixed sample size of 25 employees in each workplace?

3. How reliable is the Survey of Employees data in providing estimates about the whole workforce at an establishment?

Weighting and statistical inference

1. Why must I weight the data before I start my analysis?

2. Why are the standard procedures for calculating standard errors not appropriate for use with WERS98?

3. Section 4.6.3 of the 'Guide to Analysis of WERS98' mentions a number of methods of accounting for the complex survey design method when conducting regression analysis of the WERS98 data. Can I use these methods with the maximum likelihood estimators (e.g. logits, probits)?

4. How should I tackle the issue of weighting and statistical inference if I do not have access to the restricted data file Sample98.*?

Manipulating the data files

1. How do I combine the separate cross-section data files for linked analysis?

Analysis contained in 'Britain at Work'

1. How do I generate figures for aggregate union membership density?

2. How was the largest occupational group in the WERS98 cross-section management interview identified?

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WERS98 Data Dissemination Service
National Institute of Economic and Social Research, 2 Dean Trench St, London SW1P 3HE
URL: http://www.niesr.ac.uk/niesr/wers98     E-mail: wers98@niesr.ac.uk

This site is maintained by Simon Kirby
Page last updated: 30 June 2000