Kalev Katus, Enel Pungas, Allan Puur, Luule Sakkeus
Estonian Interuniversity Population Research Centre
Abstract. The article presents the experience from the Estonian Family and Fertility Survey, a national part of the European FFS, coordinated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Based on the modern event history methodology and collecting harmonised information on major life careers of individuals in more than 20 countries, the European FFS represents one of the most impressive undertakings in international demographic research in the 1990s. In the case of Estonia, the FFS became the first nationally representative social survey after the restoration of statehood. Due to its position, the FFS could not apply the existing procedures, but had to develop them, thus contributing to the establishment of survey statistics in Estonia. The article takes stock of the experience gained in the preparation and implementation of the survey, covering the general context, survey programme, data quality issues, the performance of interviewer network and the linkage to other national surveys.
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