Members of the Centre for Social Informatics (CSI) visited the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS) on the occasion of the completion of the project Probability online panels in national statistics for persons and households (ARIS code V5-2157, project leader Vasja Vehovar, PhD). The plenary presentation, which took place on 20 November, was attended by Mag. Apolonija Oblak Flander, Acting Director General of SURS, and about 40 methodologists.
During the visit, CSI members made a plenary presentation of the key results of the project, based on the study of the potential of probability online panels in official statistics, with a focus on cost and data quality. A pilot probability panel in Slovenia has shown some potential but also limitations. The advantages to be highlighted are mainly the cost savings and the increased speed and simplicity of data collection. The limitations relate to the bias of certain estimates, non-coverage and low levels of participation. Strategies such as combining the online mode with field or telephone surveys have been proposed as possible alternatives to the probability online panel.
The V5-2157 project dealt with probability online-based survey panels, which involve probability sampling, one-off recruitment (persons give their prior consent to participate in various surveys) and online-based surveys. Standards in official statistics require probability surveys, but probability online panels are not yet used in Slovenia. Project activities to explore the potential of such panels included a literature review, an inventory of survey questions, the implementation of a pilot probability online panel and the preparation of a full feasibility study.