Accurate, Reliable and Cheap. Register-based Analysis as an Opportunity for Social Research in Poland Cover Image

Dokładniej, rzetelniej, taniej. Badania oparte na rejestrach publicznych jako szansa dla badań społecznych w Polsce
Accurate, Reliable and Cheap. Register-based Analysis as an Opportunity for Social Research in Poland

Author(s): Tomasz Zając, Mikołaj Jasiński, Albert Izdebski, Marek Bożykowski, Marek Styczeń
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: statistical methodology; research on graduates; labour market; administrative register; Social Insurance Institution

Summary/Abstract: A social research project concerning various social issues (including education, labour market, demography, migration, epidemiology) can be conducted with register-based analysis. The knowledge about the potential and limits of this approach allows to reconcile the seemingly contradictory features of the study of complex social phenomena: effectiveness and low cost. Register-based analysis can solve a number of methodological problems, such as a decreasing response rate and a low reliability of data. The paper presents the methodology of register-based analysis. The experiences gathered during the research project conducted by the authors allowed to improve the above mentioned methodology. The methodological reflections are complemented with the results of research on educational and professional careers of the University of Warsaw graduates, based on the registers of UW and Social Insurance Institution. In addition, the authors present selected technological, administrative, and organisational problems that need to be answered in order to conduct register-based research. The methodological conclusions of the paper develop the work of Scandinavian researchers who are the most experienced scientists in the field of register-based analysis.

  • Issue Year: 216/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 45-72
  • Page Count: 28
  • Language: Polish