According to the time of registration of facts, statistical observation occurs. Types and methods of statistical observation

Statistical observation is a mass, systematic, scientifically organized observation of the phenomena of economic and social life. This observation can be carried out by state statistics bodies, research institutes, economic services of banks, exchanges, firms, etc.

The process of conducting statistical observation includes the following stages:

· preparation of observation;

· carrying out mass data collection;

· preparing data for automated processing;

· development to improve statistical observation.

The data collected must satisfy two basic requirements: reliability and comparability. Credibility- this is the correspondence of the data to what actually exists. All methods, organization and techniques for conducting statistical observation (SN) should be aimed at providing reliable data.

In order for data on individual phenomena to be generalized, they must be comparable with each other, i.e. meet using the same method and at the same time. In addition, there must be comparability with past studies to understand how the phenomenon is changing.

Comparability is achieved if the same definition of observation unit, the same methodology for recording primary characteristics and the same methodology for calculating secondary characteristics such as profitability, labor productivity, liquidity, etc. were used.

An important condition for comparability is the preservation of the time of observation and the time period to which the recorded data relates. For example, the number of university students is determined on October 1 of the academic year, the scholarship fund is determined for six months, etc. It is usually recommended that the data correspond to at least one full cycle of the process being studied, for example, an academic, business or financial year, etc. If seasonality is highly influential, data should be collected quarterly. The observation time is selected so that the object is in the most stable state.

Statistical observation is subdivided to the views. Let's present these types in the following table:

Forms, types and methods of statistical observation.

Based on the time of registration of facts, they are distinguished continuous(current), periodic And one-time. Continuous observation is carried out systematically, constantly, continuously, as phenomena occur. For example, births and deaths, marriages and divorces are registered in the registry office; production output, attendance and absence of employees, settlements with debtors and creditors, and cash payments are taken into account at enterprises. With periodic observation, registration is carried out at certain, usually equal intervals of time. For example, recording student performance based on exam session data. A one-time observation is carried out once to solve a particular problem or is repeated at indefinite intervals as needed, for example, a housing census, etc. The use of one or another type of observation depends on the specifics of the object being studied. It happens that both current and one-time observations are used to study the same process. For example, population consumption is studied by government statistics based on current observation data (budget survey). At the same time, many research teams study consumption using data from one-time observations.

Based on the coverage of population units, they distinguish solid And not continuous observation. With continuous observation, all units in the population without exception are subject to registration. It is used in the population census. The development of a mixed economy has increased the number of economic activities. This contributed to the expansion of the practice of partial observation, which in turn is divided into a method main array, selective And monographic.

With the method main array The main array is examined - that part of the units that makes the greatest contribution to the phenomenon being studied. A part of the population, which is known to not play a major role in the characteristics of the population, is excluded from observation, i.e. with this method, the largest units are selected and examined. The logic of the method is that large units can practically determine the statistical indicators that interest us. Often, the use of the main array method requires an established qualification - a characteristic value that limits the object of observation. For example, enterprises with 500 or more employees are surveyed.

At selective During observation, a part of the population units selected in a certain order is examined, and the results are distributed to the entire population. In this case, they obtain information about the entire population by studying only part of it.

At monographic In observation, individual units of the population are described in detail for the purpose of their in-depth study, which cannot be as detailed in mass observation. The main attention is paid to the qualitative aspects of the phenomenon. An example is ethnographic surveys, when the lifestyle of a family or several families is studied.

According to the source of information, observation is divided into direct, documented And survey. Direct observation is carried out by registering the studied units and their characteristics based on direct inspection, counting, weighing, and instrument readings.

During documented observation, various primary accounting documents of enterprises, institutions and organizations are used as sources of statistical information. Direct observation and documented ones are the most reliable in statistical observation. When conducting a survey, the data sources are information provided by the respondents themselves.

Preparation of statistical observation. To conduct a statistical observation, you need to formulate its purpose and the main hypotheses that must be tested against the observation data. At this stage it is determined an object And units observation, an observation program is developed and approved. The definition of the object of observation includes the definition units of observation, territories And observation time. An observation unit is a phenomenon whose characteristics are subject to registration. The set of observation units constitutes the object of observation.

The observation area covers all locations of observation units; its boundaries depend on the definition of the unit of observation.

The observation time is the time to which the collected data relates. The registration time for all units is set at the same time. When studying objects whose numbers and characteristics are continuously changing, it is established critical date, as of which information is collected. During a census, the start time and end time of data recording are usually set. When studying such a moving object as a population, it is not enough to establish the observation time. (on average in our country 3 people are born and 3-4 people die). Therefore, data is recorded at a specific point in time, called the critical observation point. The critical moment in the 1994 census was taken to be 0 a.m. from 13 to 14 February.

The observation program includes characteristics to be recorded for each observation unit. Its content depends on the goals and objectives of the survey. The program must satisfy the following principles:

1) no information not related to this survey;

2) do not include in the surveillance program those questions that may seem suspicious to people and to which inaccurate answers can be expected.

Questions must be logically connected, which allows you to control the correctness of the answers. Response forms can be digital, alternative (yes or no), or multiple-choice, where the answer consists of selecting one or more options from a variety of proposed answers. The tools of statistical observation are forms (forms, questionnaires, questionnaires) and instructions for filling them out.

Errors in statistical observation. No matter how carefully the observation tools are compiled and the instructions given to the performers, the observation material always needs control. First of all, the completeness of coverage of observation units is checked. Data is verified against the lists and completed questionnaires are recalculated. At the same time, the completeness of filling out each observation form - reporting forms, questionnaires, etc. - is checked.

All observation errors can be called registration errors. They can be random and systematic. They arise during a survey. Random errors do not have any direction. These are clerical errors, slips of the tongue, rearrangements of numbers when recording. When generalizing mass material, they cancel each other out and cannot distort the values ​​of summary indicators and the results of analysis.

Systematic errors have a certain direction. These errors are intentional (eg, underreporting your income, rounding your age). All errors of this type must be identified and corrected. Therefore, after checking the completeness of the data, they are monitored - counting and logical.

Counting control is based on a strict connection between characteristics and is carried out by arithmetic operations. This control accurately identifies the error and allows it to be corrected. Logical control is based on the logical relationship between characteristics (for example, a 10-year-old is married or has a higher education). Usually, to check the incoming observation material, a control scheme is drawn up, which includes all the connections between questions: both arithmetic and logical. Observation data are considered accepted if they have passed the control, and if necessary, corrections have been made to them. The initial stage of statistical observation ends with verification of the collected data.

Basics of Statistics

A deep, comprehensive study of any economic or social process involves measuring its quantitative side and characterizing its qualitative essence, place, role and relationships in the general system of social relations. Before you begin to use statistical methods for studying the phenomena and processes of social life, you must have at your disposal a comprehensive information base that fully and reliably describes the object of study. The process of statistical research involves the following stages:

• collection of statistical information (statistical observation) and its primary processing;
• systematization and further processing of data obtained as a result of statistical observation, based on their summary and grouping;
• generalization and analysis of the results of processing statistical materials, formulation of conclusions and recommendations based on the results of the entire statistical study.

Statistical observation- the first and initial stage of statistical research, which is a systematic, systematically organized on a scientific basis, the process of collecting primary data on various phenomena of social and economic life. Systematic statistical observation lies in the fact that it is carried out according to a specially developed plan, which includes issues related to the organization and technique of collecting statistical information, monitoring its quality and reliability, and presenting the final materials. Massive nature of statistical observation is ensured by the most complete coverage of all cases of manifestation of the phenomenon or process being studied, i.e. in the process of statistical observation, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics are measured and recorded not of individual units of the population being studied, but of the entire mass of units of the population. Systematicity of statistical observation means that it should not be carried out randomly, that is, spontaneously, but should be performed either continuously or regularly at regular intervals.

The process of conducting statistical observation is presented in Fig. 2.1.

Rice. 2.1.

The process of preparing statistical observation involves determining the purpose and object of observation, the composition of features to be recorded, and the choice of observation unit. It is also necessary to develop document forms for data collection and select means and methods for obtaining them.

Thus, statistical observation is a labor-intensive and painstaking work that requires the involvement of qualified personnel, its comprehensively thought-out organization, planning, preparation and implementation.

Types and methods of statistical observation

Direct observation carried out by recording facts personally established by registrars as a result of inspection, measurement, and counting of signs of the phenomenon being studied. In this way, prices for goods and services are recorded, working hours are measured, an inventory of warehouse balances is taken, etc.

Survey is based on obtaining data from respondents (survey participants). A survey is used in cases where observation cannot be carried out by other means. This type of observation is typical for conducting various sociological surveys and public opinion polls. Statistical information can be obtained by different types of surveys: expeditionary, correspondent, questionnaire, personal.

Expeditionary (oral) survey carried out by specially trained workers (recorders), who record respondents’ answers in observation forms. The form is a document form in which you need to fill in the answer fields.

Correspondent survey assumes that, on a voluntary basis, the responding staff reports information directly to the monitoring body. The disadvantage of this method is that it is difficult to verify the correctness of the information received.

At questionnaire respondents fill out questionnaires voluntarily and mostly anonymously. Since this method of obtaining information is not reliable, it is used in those studies where high accuracy of results is not required. In some situations, approximate results are sufficient, which only capture the trend and record the emergence of new facts and phenomena. Turnout poll involves submitting information to the surveillance authorities in person. In this way, civil status acts are registered: marriages, divorces, deaths, births, etc.

In addition to the types and methods of statistical observation, the theory of statistics also considers forms of statistical observation: reporting, specially organized statistical observation, registers.

Statistical reporting- the main form of statistical observation, which is characterized by the fact that statistical authorities receive information about the phenomena being studied in the form of special documents submitted by enterprises and organizations within a certain time frame and in an established form. The very forms of statistical reporting, methods of collecting and processing statistical data, the methodology of statistical indicators established by the FSGS are the official statistical standards of the Russian Federation and are mandatory for all subjects of public relations.

Statistical reporting is divided into specialized and standard. Composition of indicators standard reporting is uniform for all enterprises and organizations, while the composition of indicators specialized reporting depends on the specifics of individual sectors of the economy and sphere

activities. According to the timing of submission, statistical reporting can be daily, weekly, ten-day, two-week, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual. Statistical reporting can be transmitted by telephone, communication channels, on electronic media with mandatory subsequent submission on paper, signed by the responsible persons.

Specially organized statistical observation is a collection of information organized by statistical authorities either for the study of phenomena not covered by reporting, or for a more in-depth study of reporting data, their verification and clarification. Various types of censuses and one-time surveys are specially organized observations.

Registers- this is a form of observation in which the facts of the state of individual units of the population are continuously recorded. Observing a unit of the aggregate, it is assumed that the processes occurring there have a beginning, a long-term continuation and an end. In the register, each observation unit is characterized by a set of indicators. All indicators are stored as long as the observation unit is in the register and has not expired. Some indicators remain unchanged as long as the observation unit is in the register, others may change from time to time. An example of such a register is the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations (USRPO). All work related to its maintenance is carried out by the FSGS.

So, the choice of types, methods and forms of statistical observation depends on a number of factors, the main of which are the goals and objectives of observation, the specifics of the observed object, the urgency of presenting the results, the availability of trained personnel, the possibility of using technical means of collecting and processing data.

Program and methodological issues of statistical observation

One of the most important tasks that must be solved when preparing statistical observation is determining the purpose, object and unit of observation.

Intact almost anyone statistical observation- obtaining reliable information about the phenomena and processes of social life in order to identify the relationships between factors, assess the scale of the phenomenon and the patterns of its development. Based on the objectives of observation, its program and forms of organization are determined. In addition to the goal, it is necessary to establish the object of observation, i.e., determine what exactly is subject to observation.

Object of observation is a set of social phenomena or processes that are subject to research. The object of observation can be a set of institutions (credit, educational, etc.), the population, physical objects (buildings, transport, equipment). When establishing the object of observation, it is important to strictly and accurately determine the boundaries of the population being studied. To do this, it is necessary to clearly establish the essential features that determine whether to include an object in the aggregate or not. For example, before conducting a survey of medical institutions for modern equipment, it is necessary to determine the category, departmental and territorial affiliation of the clinics to be surveyed. When defining the object of observation, it is necessary to indicate the unit of observation and the unit of population.

Unit of observation is a component element of the observation object, which is a source of information, i.e., the observation unit is the bearer of characteristics that are subject to registration. Depending on the specific tasks of statistical observation, this may be a household or a person, for example a student, an agricultural enterprise or a factory. The units of observation are called reporting units, if they submit statistical reports to statistical authorities.

Unit of the population- this is a component element of the object of observation from which information about the unit of observation is received, i.e. the unit of the population serves as the basis of calculation and has characteristics that are subject to registration in the process of observation. For example, in a census of forest plantations, the unit of the population will be the tree, since it has characteristics that are subject to registration (age, species composition, etc.), while the forestry itself, in which the survey is being conducted, acts as a unit of observation.

Each phenomenon or process of social life has many signs, but it is impossible to obtain information about all of them, and not all of them are of interest to the researcher, therefore, when preparing an observation, it is necessary to decide what signs will be subject to registration in accordance with the goals and objectives of the observation . To determine the composition of recorded characteristics, an observation program is developed.

Statistical Observation Program call a set of questions, the answers to which during the observation process should constitute statistical information. Developing an observation program is a very important and responsible task, and the success of the observation depends on how correctly it is carried out. When developing an observation program, it is necessary to take into account a number of requirements for it:

• The program should, if possible, contain only those characteristics that are necessary and whose values ​​will be used for further analysis or for control purposes. In an effort to ensure completeness of information that ensures the receipt of benign materials, the amount of information collected should be limited in order to obtain reliable material for analysis;
• program questions must be clearly formulated to prevent misinterpretation and to prevent distortion of the meaning of the information collected;
• when developing an observation program, it is advisable to build a logical sequence of questions; similar questions or signs characterizing any one aspect of a phenomenon should be combined into one section;
• the monitoring program must contain control questions to verify and correct the recorded information.

To conduct observation, certain tools are required: forms and instructions. Statistical form- a special document of a single sample, which records the answers to the questions of the program. Depending on the specific content of the observation being carried out, the form may be called a statistical reporting form, a census or questionnaire, a map, a card, a questionnaire or a form. There are two types of forms: card and list. Form-card, or an individual form, is intended to reflect information about one unit of the statistical population, and payroll The form contains information about several units of the population. The integral and mandatory elements of the statistical form are the title, address and content parts. IN title part the name of the statistical observation and the body that approved this form, the deadline for submitting the form and some other information are indicated. IN address part details of the reporting observation unit are indicated. Main, content, part of the form usually appears in the form of a table that contains the name, codes and values ​​of the indicators.

The statistical form is filled out in accordance with the instructions. The instructions contain instructions on the procedure for conducting observation, methodological instructions and explanations for filling out the form. Depending on the complexity of the surveillance program, the instructions are either published as a brochure or placed on the back of the form. In addition, for the necessary clarifications, you can contact the specialists responsible for conducting the monitoring and the authorities that conduct it.

When organizing statistical observation, it is necessary to decide on the time of observation and the place where it will be carried out. Choice observation locations depends on the purpose of observation. Choice observation time associated with determining the critical moment (date) or time interval and determining the period (period) of observation. Critical moment Statistical observation is the point in time to which the information recorded during the observation process is dated. Observation period The period during which information about the phenomenon under study should be recorded is determined, i.e., the time interval during which the forms are filled out. Typically, the observation period should not be too far from the critical moment of observation so that the state of the object at that moment can be reproduced.

Issues of organizational support, preparation and conduct of statistical observation

For successful preparation and conduct of statistical observation, organizational support issues must be resolved. To do this, an organizational plan for observation is drawn up, which reflects the goals and objectives of the observation, the object of observation, the place, time, terms of observation, and the circle of persons responsible for conducting the observation.

An obligatory element of the organizational plan is the indication of the monitoring body. The range of organizations called upon to assist in conducting surveillance is also determined; these may include internal affairs bodies, the tax inspectorate, line ministries, public organizations, individuals, volunteers, etc.

Preparatory activities include:

• development of statistical observation forms, reproduction of survey documentation;
• development of a methodological apparatus for analyzing and presenting observation results;
• development of software for data processing, purchase of computer and office equipment;
• purchase of necessary materials, including stationery;
• training of qualified personnel, personnel training, conducting various types of instructions, etc.;
• carrying out mass explanatory work among the population and observation participants (lectures, conversations, appearances in the press, on radio and television);
• coordination of the activities of all services and organizations involved in joint actions;
• equipment for the data collection and processing site;
• preparation of information transmission channels and means of communication;
• resolving issues related to the financing of statistical observation.

Thus, the monitoring plan contains a number of activities aimed at successfully completing the work of recording the necessary information.

Observation accuracy and data verification methods

Each specific measurement of a data value, carried out during the observation process, gives, as a rule, an approximate value of the phenomenon value, which differs to one degree or another from the true value of this value. The degree of correspondence to the actual value of any indicator or characteristic obtained from observation materials is called accuracy of statistical observation. The discrepancy between the result of an observation and the true value of the observed phenomenon is called observation error.

Depending on the nature, stage and causes of occurrence, several types of observation errors are distinguished (Table 2.1).

Table 2.1

By their nature, errors are divided into random and systematic. Random are called errors, the occurrence of which is due to the action of random factors. These include reservations and slips of the interviewee. They can be directed towards decreasing or increasing the value of the attribute; as a rule, they are not reflected in the final result, since they cancel each other out during the summary processing of observation results. Systematic errors have the same tendency to either decrease or increase the value of the characteristic indicator. This is due to the fact that measurements, for example, are made by a faulty measuring device or errors are a consequence of inaccurate formulation of the question of the observation program, etc. Systematic errors pose a great danger, since they significantly distort the observation results.

Depending on the stage of occurrence, registration errors are distinguished; errors that arise during the preparation of data for machine processing; errors that appear during processing on computer technology.

TO registration errors These include those inaccuracies that arise when recording data in a statistical form (primary document, form, report, census form) or when entering data into computer technology, distortion of data when transmitted through communication lines (telephone, e-mail). Often registration errors arise due to non-compliance with the form, i.e. the entry was made in the wrong line or column of the document. Deliberate distortion of the values ​​of individual indicators also occurs.

Errors when preparing data for machine processing or during the processing itself occur in computer centers or data preparation centers. The occurrence of such errors is associated with careless, incorrect, unclear filling of data in forms, with a physical defect of the data carrier, with the loss of part of the data due to non-compliance with information base storage technology, or are determined by equipment malfunctions.

Knowing the types and causes of observation errors, you can significantly reduce the percentage of such information distortions. The following types of errors are distinguished:

measurement errors, associated with certain errors that arise during a single statistical observation of phenomena and processes of social life;

errors of representativeness, arising in the course of incomplete observation and related to the fact that the sample itself is not representative, and the results obtained on its basis cannot be extended to the entire population;

intentional mistakes arising due to deliberate distortion of data for various purposes, including the desire to embellish the actual state of the object of observation or, conversely, to show the unsatisfactory state of the object (this distortion of information is a violation of the law);

unintentional errors, as a rule, of an accidental nature and associated with low qualifications of workers, their inattention or negligence. Often such errors are associated with subjective factors, when people give incorrect information about their age, marital status, education, social group membership, etc., or simply forget some facts, telling the registrar information that has just arisen in memory.

It is advisable to carry out some activities that will help prevent, identify and correct observation errors. These include:

• selection of qualified personnel and quality training of personnel involved in monitoring;
• organization of control checks of the correctness of filling out documents, using a continuous or selective method;
• arithmetic and logical control of the received data after completion of the collection of observation materials.

The main types of data reliability control are syntactic, logical and arithmetic (Table 2.2).

Table 2.2

Syntactic control means checking the correctness of the structure of the document, the presence of necessary and mandatory details, the completeness of filling out the lines of the forms in accordance with the established rules. The importance and necessity of syntactic control is explained by the use of computer technology and scanners for data processing, which impose strict requirements for compliance with the rules for filling out forms.

Logical control the correctness of the recording of codes, compliance with their names and indicator values ​​are checked. The necessary relationships between indicators are checked, answers to various questions are compared, and incompatible combinations are identified. To correct errors identified during logical control, they return to the original documents and make amendments.

At arithmetic control The resulting totals are compared with pre-calculated checksums for rows and columns. Quite often, arithmetic control is based on the dependence of one indicator on two or more others, for example, it is the product of other indicators. If arithmetic control of the final indicators reveals that this dependence is not observed, this will indicate inaccuracy of the data.

Thus, control of the reliability of statistical information is carried out at all stages of statistical observation, from the collection of primary information to the stage of obtaining results.

INTRODUCTION

The growing interest in statistics is caused by the current stage of economic development in the country and the formation of market relations. This requires deep economic knowledge in the field of collection, processing and analysis of economic information.

Statistical literacy is an integral part of the professional training of every economist, financier, sociologist, political scientist, as well as any specialist dealing with the analysis of mass phenomena, be they social, economic, technical, scientific and others. The work of these groups of specialists is inevitably associated with the collection, development and analysis of statistical (mass) data. Often they themselves have to conduct statistical analyzes of various types and directions, or get acquainted with the results of statistical analyzes performed by others. Currently, a worker engaged in any field of science, technology, production, business, etc., related to the study of mass phenomena, is required to be at least a statistically literate person. Ultimately, it is impossible to successfully specialize in many disciplines without mastering some kind of statistics course. Therefore, familiarity with the general categories, principles and methodology of statistical analysis is of great importance.

The basis of statistical literacy is largely provided by the subject “General Theory of Statistics”.

As is known, for the statistical practice of the Russian Federation and the CIS countries in recent years, the most important issue has remained adequate information reflection of new socio-economic phenomena. This, in particular, includes the organization of obtaining and analyzing data characterizing changes in forms of ownership and the privatization process, non-state employment and unemployment, the activities of market financial and credit structures and radical reform of the tax system, new types of migration of citizens and support for emerging low-income social groups, and also much more. In addition, in order to monitor the implementation of market relations and the emerging realities of serious adjustments, they required a system of indicators, collection and development of data in traditional areas of statistical observation: taking into account the main results of industrial and agricultural production, domestic and foreign trade, the activities of social facilities, etc. d. At the same time, the urgent need to obtain adequate and unambiguous information is currently systematically increasing.

Recently, approaches to organizing statistical observation of socio-economic life phenomena have not undergone significant changes.

Statistical observation acts as one of the main methods of statistics and as one of the most important stages of statistical research. The importance of this stage of the study is determined by the fact that the use of only objective and sufficiently complete information obtained as a result of statistical observation at subsequent stages of the study is able to provide scientifically based conclusions about the nature and patterns of development of the object being studied. Statistical observation from the initial to the final stage - obtaining final materials - must be carefully thought out and clearly organized.

THE CONCEPT OF STATISTICAL OBSERVATION,

AND ITS STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION

To study socio-economic phenomena and processes of social life, one must first of all collect the necessary information about them - statistical data. Under the statistics(information) understand the totality of quantitative characteristics of socio-economic phenomena and processes obtained as a result of statistical observation, their processing or corresponding calculations.

Statistical information is necessary for both government authorities and private entrepreneurs. Thus, data on the economic situation in the country, on the existing purchasing power of the population, its composition and size, the profitability of enterprises in various sectors of the national economy, the dynamics of unemployment, and changes in price indices for individual goods are needed by government services to improve the taxation system for enterprises and individuals, making changes in customs and investment policies, development of measures for social protection of various segments of the population. The same information is also required by private entrepreneurs for planning and organizing production.

The main properties of statistical information are its mass nature and stability. The first feature is related to the peculiarities of the subject of research of statistics as a science, and the second suggests that once collected information remains unchanged and, therefore, has the ability to become outdated. Therefore, conclusions about the state and development of the phenomenon, made on the basis of an analysis of information obtained several years ago, may be incomplete and even incorrect.

An important part of any statistical study is statistical observation.

Statistical observation – This is a massive, systematic, scientifically organized observation of the phenomena of social and economic life, which consists of recording selected characteristics of each unit of the population.

An example of statistical observation is public opinion polls, which have become especially popular in Russia V last years. Such observation is undertaken with the aim of identifying people's attitudes towards certain issues of interest or controversial events. The study of public opinion is the basis of the general market research system and is its important component. Such observation requires interviewing a number of individuals according to a predetermined program.

Statistical observation can be carried out by state statistics bodies, research institutes, economic services of banks, exchanges, and firms.

The process of conducting statistical observation includes the following stages:

° preparation of observation;

° conducting mass data collection;

° preparing data for automated processing;

° development of proposals to improve statistical observation.

Any statistical observation requires careful, thoughtful preparation. The reliability and reliability of information and the timeliness of its receipt will largely depend on it.

Preparation of statistical observation is a process that includes different types of work. First, it is necessary to resolve methodological issues, the most important of which are determining the purpose and object of observation, the composition of signs to be registered; development of documents for data collection; selection of the reporting unit and the unit for which observation will be carried out, as well as methods and means of obtaining data.

In addition to methodological issues, it is necessary to solve problems of an organizational nature, for example, to determine the composition of the bodies conducting surveillance; select and prepare personnel for observation; draw up a work schedule for preparing, conducting and processing observation materials; replicate documents to collect data.

Carrying out mass data collection includes work directly related to filling out statistical forms. It begins with the distribution of census forms, questionnaires, forms, statistical reporting forms and ends with their delivery after completion to the bodies conducting surveillance.

The collected data at the stage of their preparation for automated processing is subject to arithmetic and logical control. Both of these controls are based on knowledge of the relationships between indicators and qualitative characteristics. At the final stage of the observation, the reasons that led to the incorrect filling out of statistical forms are analyzed, and proposals are developed to improve the observation. This is very important for organizing future surveys.

Obtaining information during statistical observation requires a lot of financial and labor resources, as well as time.

PURPOSE OF STATISTICAL OBSERVATION

Purpose of observation. Statistical observations most often pursue a practical goal - obtaining reliable information to identify patterns of development of phenomena and processes. For example, the purpose of the 1994 Russian microcensus was to obtain data on the size, composition of the population, and its living conditions.

The task of observation determines its program and forms of organization. An unclear goal can lead to the fact that during the observation process unnecessary data will be collected or, conversely, the information necessary for analysis will not be obtained.

An object and unit of observation. Reporting unit. When preparing an observation, in addition to the purpose, it is necessary to determine exactly what is to be examined, i.e., to establish the object of observation.

Under surveillance refers to a certain statistical totality in which the socio-economic phenomena and processes under study occur. The object of observation can be a set of individuals (the population of a particular region, country; persons employed at industry enterprises), physical units (machines, cars, residential buildings), legal entities (enterprises, farms, commercial banks, educational institutions).

To determine the object of statistical observation, it is necessary to establish the boundaries of the population being studied. To do this, you should indicate the most important features that distinguish it from other similar objects. For example, before conducting a survey of the profitability of industrial enterprises, it is necessary to determine the forms of ownership, legal forms of enterprises, industries and regions to be monitored.

Every object of statistical observation consists of individual elements - units of observation.

In statistics unit of observation(in foreign literature the term “elementary unit” is used) is a component element of an object that is the bearer of characteristics that are subject to registration. For example, in demographic surveys the unit of observation may be the individual, but it may also be the family; for budget surveys – family or household.

The observation unit must be distinguished from the reporting unit. Reporting unit is the subject from whom data about the observation unit comes. Thus, when organizing statistical observation in capital construction, information can be obtained from project or contractor organizations, or from developer enterprises.

The observation unit and the reporting unit can be the same. For example, if it is necessary to determine the volume of capital investments disbursed in a year, then the developer enterprise will be both an observation unit and a reporting organization. However, when studying the process of concentration of capital investments, the reporting unit will still be the developer, and the observation unit will be the construction sites and objects the construction of which is carried out by this developer.

STATISTICAL OBSERVATION PROGRAM

Statistical observation program. Every phenomenon has many different characteristics. Collecting information on all characteristics is impractical and often impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to select those features that are essential and fundamental to characterize the object, based on the purpose of the study. To determine the composition of recorded characteristics, an observation program is developed.

Observation program – this is a list of signs (or questions) to be recorded during the observation process. The quality of the information collected largely depends on how well the statistical observation program is developed.

In order to draw up a correct observation program, the researcher must clearly understand the objectives of examining a specific phenomenon or process, determine the composition of the methods used in the analysis, the necessary groupings, and based on this, identify those signs that can be determined during the work. Usually the program is expressed in the form of questions on a census questionnaire.

The following requirements apply to the statistical observation program.

The program must contain essential features that directly characterize the phenomenon being studied, its type, main features, and properties. You should not include in the program features that are of secondary importance in relation to the purpose of the survey or whose values ​​will obviously be unreliable or absent, for example, in primary accounting or if reporting units are not interested in providing such information, since it is the subject of a trade secret.

The program's questions must be precise and unambiguous, otherwise the received answer may contain incorrect information, and also easy to understand in order to avoid unnecessary difficulties in obtaining answers.

When developing a program, you should not only determine the composition of the questions, but also their sequence. A logical order in the sequence of questions (signs) will help to obtain reliable information about phenomena and processes.

The surveillance will cover the entire country. When collecting information about the cost of the consumer basket in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the location of the survey will be the territories of these two largest cities in the country.

The choice of observation time involves solving two issues:

° establishing a critical moment (date) or time interval;

° determination of the observation period (period).

Under the critical moment(date) is understood as a specific day of the year, hour of the day, as of which the registration of characteristics should be carried out for each unit of the population under study. For example, the critical moment of the micro-census of the population of the Russian Federation in 1994 was 0 hours on the night of February 13-14, 1994. The critical moment is established in order to obtain comparable statistical data. In the case of studying the variation of stock quotes at trading on currency exchanges in different cities of Russia, it is necessary to have data on the exchange rates of the US dollar, Japanese yen, German mark and other currencies registered on the same day. If it is necessary to analyze the change in the volume of sales of any currency on the exchange market in the reporting month compared to the previous month, then it is not the critical moment that is established, but the time interval for which statistical data should be obtained.

The choice of a critical moment or time interval is determined primarily by the purpose of the study.

Term (period) observations are the time during which statistical forms are filled out, i.e., the time required to conduct mass data collection. This period is determined based on the volume of work (the number of registered characteristics and units in the surveyed population), the number of personnel involved in collecting information. It should be taken into account that moving the observation period away from the critical moment or time interval may lead to a decrease in the reliability of the information obtained. For example, the micro-census mentioned earlier was conducted in for ten days from February 14 to February 23, 1994

ORGANIZATIONAL WORK IN STATISTICAL OBSERVATION

The success of any statistical observation depends not only on the thoroughness of methodological preparation, but also on the correct and timely solution of a wide range of organizational issues.

The most important place in organizational work is occupied by personnel training, V during which various kinds of briefings are carried out with employees of statistical bodies, with organizations submitting data, on the issues of filling out statistical documents, preparing observation materials for automated processing, etc.

If conducting an observation involves large expenditures of labor resources, then persons from among the unemployed (including the unemployed) and certain categories of students (students of higher educational institutions, senior students of technical schools) are recruited to register information during the period of surveys. When conducting a population census, such persons are called enumerators. Training is usually provided for temporary staff. It is carried out to develop skills in correctly filling out statistical forms by enumerators.

Reproduction of documentation of the survey itself, documentation for conducting briefings and distributing them to republican, regional, regional committees and statistics departments also refers to organizational issues of observation.

During the preparation period, a large role is given to mass explanatory work: holding lectures, conversations, organizing speeches in the press, on radio and television about the meaning, goals and objectives of the upcoming survey.

To coordinate the activities of all services involved in preparing and conducting observations, it is advisable to draw up a calendar plan, which is a list (name) of work and deadlines for their execution separately for each organization involved in conducting the survey.

FORMS OF STATISTICAL OBSERVATION

At the stage of preparing the survey, you need to find out how often it will be carried out, whether all units of the population will be surveyed or only part of them, how to obtain information about the object (by telephone interviews, by mail, simple observation, etc.). In other words, it is necessary to determine the forms, methods and types of statistical observation.

Forms of statistical observation. In domestic statistics, three organizational forms (types) of statistical observation are used:

Reporting (enterprises, organizations, institutions, etc.);

Specially organized statistical observation (censuses, one-time counts, continuous and non-continuous surveys);

Registers.

Statistical reporting. Reporting – This is the main form of statistical observation, with the help of which statistical authorities, within a certain time frame, receive from enterprises, institutions and organizations the necessary data in the form of legally established reporting documents, sealed with the signatures of persons responsible for their presentation and the reliability of the information collected. Thus, reporting is this is an official document containing statistical information about the work of an enterprise, institution, organization, etc.

Reporting as a form of statistical observation is based on primary accounting and is its generalization. Primary accounting is a registration of various facts and events, carried out as they occur, usually on a special document called a primary accounting document.

The characteristic feature of reporting is that, firstly, it is approved by state statistics bodies. Submission of information on unapproved forms is a violation of reporting discipline. Secondly, it is mandatory, i.e. all enterprises, institutions, organizations must submit it within the specified time frame; legal force because it is signed by the head of the enterprise (institution, organization); documentary validity, since all data is based on primary accounting documents.

Current statistical reporting is divided into standard and specialized. The composition of indicators in standard reporting is the same for enterprises in all sectors of the national economy. In specialized reporting, the composition of indicators changes depending on the characteristics of individual sectors of the economy.

According to the reporting deadlines, there are daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly and annual. In addition to annual reporting, all of the listed types represent current reporting.

According to the method of presenting information, reporting is divided into telegraph, teletype, and postal.

Specially organized statistical observation. Census. Specially organized observation is carried out in order to obtain information missing from the reporting or to verify its data. The simplest example of such surveillance is the census. Russian practical statistics conduct censuses of population, material resources, perennial plantings, uninstalled equipment, unfinished construction sites, equipment, etc.

Census – This is a specially organized observation, repeated, as a rule, at regular intervals, in order to obtain data on the number, composition and condition of the object of statistical observation for a number of characteristics.

The characteristic features of the census are: the simultaneity of its conduct throughout the entire territory that should be covered by the survey; unity of the surveillance program; registration of all observation units at the same critical point in time. The observation program, techniques and methods of obtaining data should, if possible, remain unchanged. This makes it possible to ensure comparability of the information collected and the summary indicators obtained during the development of census materials. Then it is possible not only to determine the size and composition of the population under study, but also to analyze its quantitative changes in the period between two surveys.

Of all the censuses, the most famous are the population censuses. The purpose of the latter is to establish the size and distribution of the population throughout the country, characterizing its composition by gender, age, occupation and other indicators. The first general population census of Russia was carried out in 1897, and the last one in 1989 G.

During the period of preparation for the general census, a trial census is carried out to clarify and test programmatic, methodological and organizational issues of observation. For example, such a census was carried out in December 1986. This survey did not cover all, but only five percent of the country's population. Recording of information during a population census is always carried out on the basis of a survey (without the requirement to present any documents confirming the correctness of the answer).

Censuses have become widespread in foreign statistics. Among them, the most interesting are the censuses of sectors of the national economy systematically conducted in the United States, in particular the census of the manufacturing industry, called qualifications. (It should be borne in mind that the word “qualification” has several meanings. It is not only a synonym for the word “census”. It also means a number of characteristics, the presence of which, when organizing observation, serves as the basis for classifying a particular unit To population under study). American censuses cover all businesses and are conducted once every five years (in years ending with the number 2 or 7). Between censuses, annual sample surveys are conducted to fill data gaps.

The program of such censuses provides for obtaining data on the number of employed people, wages, man-hours worked, supply costs; information on electricity consumption, capital investments, cost and quantity of shipped products, finished product inventories, cost of work in progress, materials and fuel at the end of the year, and also contains special questions about the type of enterprise, its equipment, etc.

Survey forms are sent to businesses to complete by mail 4-7 months before the start of the census. This allows reporting units to fill out census forms in a timely and correct manner.

In addition to censuses, statistics also conduct other specially organized observations, in particular budget surveys that characterize the structure of consumer spending and family income.

Register form of observation. Register surveillance – it is a form of continuous statistical observation of long-term processes that have a fixed beginning, a stage of development, and a fixed end. It is based on maintaining a statistical register. The register is a system that constantly monitors the state of the observation unit and evaluates the strength of the influence of various factors on the indicators being studied. In the register, each observation unit is characterized by a set of indicators. Some of them remain unchanged throughout the observation period and are recorded once; other indicators, the frequency of change of which is unknown, are updated as they change; the third ones are dynamic series of indicators with a previously known update period. All indicators are stored until the observation of a unit of the surveyed population is completed.

Organizing and maintaining a register is impossible without addressing the following issues.

° When to enter and exclude population units from the register?

° What information should be stored?

° What sources should you get your data from?

° How often do you update and supplement information?

In statistical practice, a distinction is made between population registers and enterprise registers.

Population register – a named and regularly updated list of residents of the country. The observation program is limited to general characteristics, such as gender, date and place of birth, date of marriage (these data remain unchanged throughout the observation period) and marital status (variable characteristic). As a rule, registers store information only on those variable characteristics, the change in values ​​of which is documented.

Information is entered into the register for each person born and arriving from abroad. If a person has died or left the country for permanent residence, then information about him is removed from the register. Population registers are maintained for individual regions of the country. When changing place of residence, information on a population unit is transferred to the register of the corresponding territory. Due to the fact that the registration rules are quite complex and maintaining a register is expensive, this form of surveillance is practiced in countries with a small population and a highly cultured population (mainly European countries).

It should be noted that the population register, like any register covering a significant population of units, contains data on a limited number of characteristics. Therefore, maintaining a register involves conducting specially organized surveys, including population censuses.

Register of Enterprises includes all types of economic activity and contains the values ​​of the main characteristics for each unit of the observed object for a certain period or point in time. Enterprise registers contain data on the time of creation (registration of the enterprise), its name and address, telephone number, organizational and legal form, structure, type of economic activity, number of employees (this indicator reflects the size of the enterprise), etc.

In our country, three registers have been developed: industrial enterprises, enterprises, construction sites and contracting organizations. Their introduction into statistical practice significantly increased the information and analytical levels of statistics and made it possible to solve a number of economic and statistical problems for which other forms of statistical observation are unsuitable. Currently, work is underway to create a unified register for all business units. It plays an important role in the introduction of the system of national accounts into statistical practice.

The Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations of All Forms of Ownership (USRPO) makes it possible to organize continuous observation of a limited range of statistical indicators of enterprises registered on the territory of Russia, and makes it possible to obtain continuous series of indicators in the event of changes in the territorial, industrial and other structures of the population.

The register contains data on all enterprises, organizations, institutions and associations, regardless of their form of ownership, including enterprises with foreign investment, banking institutions, public associations and other legal entities.

The register information fund contains, firstly, the register code subject; secondly, information about the sectoral, territorial affiliation of the subject, its subordination, type of ownership, organizational form; thirdly, background information (names of managers , addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, etc., information about the founders) and, finally, fourthly, economic indicators. The values ​​of the latter will be entered into the register on the basis of accounting and statistical reports submitted to regional statistical bodies. The register contains data on the following indicators: average number of employees; funds allocated for consumption; residual value of fixed assets; balance sheet profit (loss); authorized capital. Since the register is maintained for individual territories, regional statistical services can expand the composition of economic indicators if necessary.

The USRPO will allow for the selection and grouping of any set of units according to one or more characteristics.

Collection of data on observation units is carried out in the process of their state registration and subsequent accounting.

When closing an enterprise, the liquidation commission notifies the register maintenance service about this within ten days.

Users of the register can be any legal or natural persons interested in the information.

METHODS OF STATISTICAL OBSERVATION

Methods of statistical observation. Statistical information can be obtained in various ways, the most important of which are direct observation, documentary recording of facts and surveys.

Direct they call such observation in which the registrars themselves, by direct measurement, weighing, counting or checking work, etc., establish a fact to be recorded, and on this basis make entries in the observation form. This method is used when monitoring the commissioning of residential buildings.

Documentary method observation is based on the use of various kinds of documents, usually of an accounting nature, as a source of statistical information. With proper control over the establishment of primary accounting and correct filling out of statistical forms, the documentary method gives the most accurate results.

Survey - This is a method of observation in which the necessary information is obtained from the words of the respondent. It involves addressing the direct bearer of signs that are subject to registration during observation, and is used to obtain information about phenomena and processes that are not amenable to direct direct observation.

The following types of surveys are used in statistics: oral (expeditionary), self-registration, correspondent, questionnaire and personal.

At orally(expeditionary) survey, specially trained workers (enumerators, recorders) receive the necessary information based on a survey of relevant persons and themselves record the answers in the observation form. In terms of the form of conduct, an oral survey can be direct (as is the case in the population census), when the enumerator meets “face to face” with each respondent, and indirect, for example, by telephone.

At self-registration the forms are filled out by the respondents themselves, and the enumerators give them the questionnaire forms, explain the rules for filling them out, and then collect them.

Correspondent method lies in the fact that information is provided to the monitoring bodies by a staff of voluntary correspondents.

This type of survey requires the least cost, but does not provide confidence that the material received is of high quality, since it is not always possible to check the correctness of the answers received directly on the spot.

Questionnaire method involves collecting information in the form of questionnaires. A certain circle of respondents are given special questionnaires (questionnaires) either in person or by publication in periodicals. Completion of these questionnaires is voluntary and is usually done anonymously. Typically, fewer questionnaires are returned than are sent out. This method of collecting information is used for incomplete observation. Questionnaire surveys are used in surveys where high accuracy is not required, but approximate, indicative results are needed, for example, when studying public opinion about the work of urban transport, trading enterprises, etc.

Appearance method provides for the submission of information to the authorities conducting observation in person, for example, when registering marriages, births, divorces, etc.

When choosing the type of survey, it is necessary to take into account: with what accuracy the observations must be made; the possibility of practical application of one or another method; material opportunities.

TYPES OF STATISTICAL OBSERVATION

Types of statistical observation. Statistical observations can be divided into groups according to the following criteria:

° time of registration of facts;

° coverage of population units.

By time of registration of facts There is continuous (current), periodic and one-time observation. During the current observation, changes in relation to the phenomena being studied are recorded as they occur, for example, when registering births, deaths, and marital status. Such observation is carried out in order to study the dynamics of a phenomenon.

Data reflecting site changes may be collected over multiple surveys. They are usually carried out using a similar program and tools and are called periodic. This type of observation includes population censuses, which are carried out every 10 years, and registration of producer prices for individual goods, which is currently carried out monthly.

One-time the survey provides information about the quantitative characteristics of any phenomenon or process at the time of its study. Repeated registration is carried out after some time (undetermined in advance) or may not be carried out at all. The one-time survey was an inventory of unfinished industrial construction in 1990.

By coverage of population units Statistical observation can be continuous or incomplete. The task continuous observation is to obtain information about all units of the population under study.

Until recently, the Russian system of state statistics relied primarily on continuous observation. However, this type of observation has serious disadvantages: the high cost of obtaining and processing the entire amount of information; high labor costs; insufficient efficiency of information, since collecting and processing it requires a lot of time. And finally, no continuous observation, as a rule, provides complete coverage of all units of the population without exception. A larger or smaller number of units necessarily remain unobserved, both during one-time surveys and during such a form of observation as reporting. For example, at present, a significant part of private sector enterprises do not provide the necessary information to state statistical bodies, even despite the adopted Law of the Russian Federation “On liability for violation of the procedure for submitting state statistical reporting.”

The number and proportion of units not covered depend on many factors: the type of survey (by mail, by oral interview); reporting unit type; registrar qualifications; the content of the questions provided for in the observation program; time of day or year when the survey is carried out, etc.

Incomplete observation initially assumes that only a portion of the units in the population being studied are subject to survey. When conducting it, it is necessary to determine in advance what part of the population should be subjected to observation and how to select those units that should be surveyed.

One of the advantages of non-continuous observations is the possibility of obtaining information in a shorter time and with less expenditure of resources than with continuous observation. This is due to a smaller volume of collected information, and therefore lower costs for its acquisition, verification, processing, and analysis.

There are several types of partial observation. One of them - selective observation. This is a fairly common type, based on the principle of random selection of those units of the population being studied that should be subjected to observation. When properly organized, sample observation gives fairly accurate results that are quite suitable for characterizing the entire population under study. This is the advantage of selective observation compared to other types of incomplete observation.

The size of the sample population depends on the nature (character) of the socio-economic phenomenon being studied. The sample population must represent all types of units present in the population under study. Otherwise, the sample population will not accurately reproduce the proportions and dependencies characteristic of the population in its entirety.

A type of sample observation is moment observation method. Its essence is that information is collected by recording the values ​​of characteristics of units in the sample population V some predetermined points in time. Therefore, the method of momentary observations involves selecting not only units of the population under study (sampling in space), but also moments in time at which the state of the object under study is recorded - sampling in time).

This type of observation is used when conducting population income surveys.

The next type of continuous observation is the method main array. In this case, the most significant, usually the largest units of the population being studied are examined, which, according to the main (for a specific study) characteristic, have the largest share in the population. It is this type that is used to organize monitoring of the work of city markets.

Monographic a survey is a type of continuous observation in which individual units of the population under study, usually representatives of some new types of phenomena, are subjected to a thorough examination. It is carried out with the aim of identifying existing or emerging trends in the development of this phenomenon.

A monographic survey, limited to individual units of observation, studies them with a high degree of detail, which cannot be achieved with a continuous or even sample survey. A detailed statistical and monographic study of one factory, farm, family budget, etc. makes it possible to capture those proportions and connections that escape the field of view during mass observations.

Thus, during a monographic survey, individual units of a population are subjected to statistical observation, and they can represent both truly isolated cases and populations of small size. A monographic survey is often carried out to design a new mass surveillance program. We can say that there is a close connection between continuous (or selective) and monographic observations. On the one hand, to select observation units that should be subjected to monographic study, data from mass surveys are used. On the other hand, the results of monographic surveys make it possible to clarify the structure of the population under study and, what is very important, the relationship between individual features characterizing the phenomenon under study. This allows us to clarify the mass observation program, the characteristic features and main features of the research object.

OBSERVATION ERRORS

Accuracy of statistical observation they call the degree of correspondence of the value of any indicator (the value of any attribute), determined from statistical observation materials, to its actual value.

The discrepancy between the calculated and actual values ​​of the quantities being studied is called observation error.

Data accuracy is a basic requirement for statistical observation. To avoid observation errors, prevent, identify and correct their occurrence, it is necessary:

° provide high-quality training for personnel who will conduct

make observation;

° organize special partial or complete controls

checking the correctness of filling out statistical forms;

° carry out logical and arithmetic control of the received data after completing the collection of information.

Depending on the reasons for their occurrence, registration errors and representativeness errors are distinguished.

Registration errors – these are deviations between the value of an indicator obtained during statistical observation and its actual, actual value. This type of error can occur in both continuous and incomplete observations.

Systematic registration errors always have the same tendency to either increase or decrease the value of indicators for each unit of observation, and therefore the value of the indicator for the population as a whole will include the accumulated error. An example of a statistical registration error when conducting sociological surveys of the population is the rounding of the age of the population, as a rule, using numbers ending in 5 and 0. Many respondents, for example, instead of 48-49 and 51-52 years old, say that they are 50 years old.

Unlike registration errors, representativeness errors are characteristic only for incomplete observations. They arise because the selected and surveyed population does not accurately reproduce (represent) the entire original population as a whole.

The deviation of the value of an indicator of the surveyed population from its value in the original population is called representativeness error.

Representativeness errors can also be random or systematic. Random errors occur when the sampled population does not fully replicate the population as a whole. Its magnitude can be estimated.

Systematic errors of representativeness arise due to a violation of the principles of selecting units from the original population that should be subjected to observation. To identify and eliminate errors made during registration, counting and logical control of the collected material can be used. Representativeness (as well as registration errors) can be random or systematic.

Counting control consists of checking the accuracy of arithmetic calculations used in reporting or filling out survey forms.

Logic control consists of checking the answers to the questions of the observation program by logical comprehension of them or by comparing the data obtained with other sources on the same issue.

An example of a logical comparison would be census forms. So, for example, in the census form a two-year-old boy is shown to be married, and a nine-year-old child is shown to be literate. It is clear that the answers to the questions received are incorrect. Such records require clarification of information and correction of errors. An example of comparison could be information about the wages of employees of an industrial enterprise, which are available in the labor report and in the production cost report. In trade, an example of such logical control can be a comparison of information on the wage fund contained in both the labor reporting and the distribution costs report.

After receiving the statistical forms, you should first check the completeness of the collected data, that is, determine whether all reporting units filled out the statistical forms and whether the values ​​of all indicators are reflected in them. The next stage of information accuracy control is arithmetic control. It is based on the use of quantitative relationships between the values ​​of various indicators. For example, if among the collected data there is information about the number of industrial production personnel, the average production of marketable products per worker and the cost of marketable products, then the product of the first two indicators should give the value of the third indicator. If arithmetic control shows that this dependence is not satisfied, this will indicate the unreliability of the collected data. Therefore, it is advisable to include in the statistical observation program indicators that make it possible to carry out arithmetic control.

Usually, to correct errors identified during logical control, it is necessary to return to the source of information.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE SAMPLING METHOD IN

RESEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CLIENTS.

Structural changes in the economy had a significant impact on employment (the unemployment rate increased).

Where do people go without work? First, everyone tries to get a job “on their own.” Many, immediately or after an unsuccessful search for work, turn to employment services, whose main task is to provide employment for citizens who apply to them in their specialty with sufficient wages for everyone, conveniently at their location.

In order to offer suitable work, it is necessary to have information about each person in need of employment.

It should be noted that it is advisable to analyze the composition of the unemployed who applied to the employment service. The results of the analysis will not only be interesting, but will also be useful for your work.

The composition and number of people applying to the employment service varies from month to month, from season to season. To assess the situation and identify the wishes of the unemployed, sample surveys can be conducted. The indisputable advantage of the sampling method is the minimal time spent on obtaining representative data.

To form a sample population from the total number of applicants to the employment service, you can use a typical sample, which involves a preliminary division of the general population into homogeneous groups that are formed through a specially conducted typical grouping of units of the general population or the use of existing, naturally occurring phenomena. In this case, the number of people who applied for help in finding employment can be divided into men and women, distinguishing them by level of education, specialty, position and other characteristics, and in each resulting group a selection can be made proportional to the size of the groups.

At the design stage, the size of the sample population is calculated. When selecting units in proportion to the number of typical groups, the number of observations for each group is determined by the formula:

where n i is the sample size for the i-th typical group;

N i - volume of the i-th typical group;

n - total sample size;

N is the total volume of the general sample.

After conducting a sample observation, the errors of the sample indicators should be calculated. To determine the maximum sampling error of the average value of a quantitative characteristic using non-repetitive sampling, use the formula:

Dx=t?s x 2 /n*(1-n/N).

In this case, the confidence coefficient t depends on the probability with which the maximum sampling error is guaranteed. It is recommended to take a confidence level of 0.997 (t=3). a confidence level of 0.997 means that only in 3 cases out of 1000 an error can go beyond the established limits.

To obtain additional information about the unemployed in the sample population, you can conduct a survey. When determining the required range of questions, one must proceed from the purpose of the survey - to obtain additional information for employment, taking into account the existing profession and the desires of the person applying to the employment service. Thus, the questionnaire should include questions about education, profession, length of service and last place of work. Based on the results of the survey, it is necessary to find out the number of people willing to take courses in order to improve their skills and acquire a new profession. By extending the results of sample observation to the general population, it is possible to determine the number of future students - this is necessary to make a decision on the advisability of organizing training courses and their further employment. Thus, making a decision on organizing studies is possible based on survey data from the minimum number of people who applied to the employment service.

If you include in the questionnaire a question about the unemployed’s requirements for a new job, you can determine the scope, geography, work schedule and other characteristics of the desired job. Using the data obtained, it is possible to compare the number of unemployed with the available vacancies and determine the employment opportunity of those who contacted the employment service.

The most difficult and important stage of compiling a questionnaire is the formulation of questions. Therefore, the question must be consistent with the topic and objectives of the study. The form of questions should be oriented towards cooperation.

Let's look at a number of questions that, in my opinion, should be included in the questionnaire. To determine the level of qualifications, the question is raised about the level of special and general training, qualification categories and categories, and work experience. For a more detailed description, you can include questions about knowledge of foreign languages ​​and skills in working with a personal computer.

An analysis of the social structure of unemployment suggests identifying the structure of the unemployed by main social strata and groups, and by income level.

The choice of a new place of work, in addition to the noted factors, also depends on health conditions. In this regard, the question is raised about whether there are restrictions on work due to health reasons.

At the end of the questionnaire, the respondent is asked to express in an open form a general opinion on the topic of the survey, suggestions and wishes.

Based on some standards developed in practice, it is possible to determine the size of the designed questionnaire. It is believed that 20-30 minutes is enough time to answer all the questions without getting tired.

A questionnaire survey of citizens who applied to the employment service made it possible to obtain information about the state of the labor market in Cheboksary.

Composition of the labor market:

The main share falls on those laid off at their own request and laid off. The most common reason for dismissal is very low wages, as well as a reduction in wages. Due to a long stay on leave without pay (administrative leave).

Of course, information about the causes of unemployment is necessary for the effective work of employment services and, to a certain extent, can contribute to the selection of work in accordance with the individual capabilities of everyone.

The results of the survey revealed some differences in the level of education among men and women.

Distribution of respondents by education and gender.

The bulk of the unemployed are people with general secondary education, therefore, employment opportunities for this category will be determined by educational requirements.

According to the survey, almost half of those who applied to the employment service (40.5%) have two, and some more, professions. At the same time, to the question: “Do you want to have another (additional) specialty?” 61.5% of respondents answered positively. These are mainly young people, with an average age of 29 years, who have expressed a desire to learn new professions in courses directed by the employment service. When determining their future place of work, each person compares their physical capabilities with the actual workload of the proposed job. In this regard, our questionnaire asked a question about health status, the answers to which are presented below:

Distribution of respondents by health status.

Health data is another of the many factors that determines the choice of place of work.

Thus, the sampling method, and in particular surveying the unemployed, allows us to obtain a wide variety of information in a short time and at the lowest cost.

CONCLUSION.

The federal program “Reforming Statistics in 1997-2000” considers reforming the statistical observation system as one of the main program areas. The task is set: “...to restructure the methods of collecting information by implementing a combined approach, according to which large and medium-sized enterprises of all forms of ownership will be surveyed using the continuous accounting method, small enterprises - using a selective method.

Statistical observation provides the necessary data on the quantitative values ​​of certain indicators and, naturally, must change in accordance with the requirements of the statistical observation system.

First, as provided for in the federal program for reforming statistics, it is necessary to create a system of registers, subregisters and data banks that allow the accumulation, updating and appropriate transformation of the basic information necessary for the application of methodologically complex observation methods. Unfortunately, despite the efforts made, the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations continues to be of little use for these purposes.

Secondly, it is necessary to solve the problem of the quality of primary statistical information. The influence of errors on the final result of observation increases immeasurably, so large amounts of money are spent on reconciling primary data. Despite all the psychological complexity, it is necessary to consider the issue of accompanying publications of statistical data with references to their accuracy. An understanding must come: without references to accuracy, there is no statistical data.

The program approach will make it possible to carry out a targeted set of measures to improve the statistical observation system: first of all, the formation, on the basis of a system of statistical indicators of socio-economic development, of a list of the most important measures for the progress and implementation of economic reforms in the system of national economic management, the methodology of the most important indicators taken into account when conducting censuses, one-time , sample and monographic surveys.

Indicators should be maximally focused on the methodology used for international statistical comparisons, and also free from market conditions of the period of stagnation.

It is proposed to develop and implement into practice the statistical qualification system a number of regularly provided reporting indicators.

The qualification contains a number of characteristics (usually in quantitative terms), the presence of which during statistical work (censuses, sample surveys, etc.) serves as the basis for classifying an object as a member of the population under study.

The qualification system can also be used to conduct one-time records and surveys, covering only enterprises or organizations that predominate in the population being studied.

Based on the program for improving the statistical observation system, the following sequence of stages of its development and implementation is proposed:

1. Determination of a list of statistical indicators characterizing the most important economic processes for continuous observation, as well as a list of indicators and objects of statistical observation, information on which can be obtained through censuses, sample observation and one-time records;

2. Development and implementation of reporting forms for continuous observation, as well as forms and programs for selective observation and the necessary mathematical apparatus for disseminating sample observation data to the entire set of objects;

3. Development of a system of qualification reporting and the necessary mathematical apparatus for distributing qualification reporting to the entire set of objects;

4.Training of economists in the methods of sample, monographic surveys and qualification reporting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. Bashet K.V.<<Статистика коммерческой деятельности>> M: Finance and Statistics. 1996

2. <<Вопросы статистики>> 1996 No. 1, No. 11.

3. <<Вопросы статистики>> 1997 No. 2, No. 4, No. 5.

4. Eleseeva M.A.<<Общая теория статистики>>M:<<Статистика>> 1988

5. Kharchenko L.P.<<Статистика>> M: INFRA - M 1997

By form

a) reporting

b) specially organized examination

2. by type

· by coverage of population units

a) solid

b) not continuous

· depending on the time factor

a) current

b) periodic

c) one-time

· depending on the source of information

a) direct observation

b) documentary

question

By way

a) reporting

b) expeditionary

c) method of self-registration

d) questionnaire

e) correspondent

e) spontaneous

Forms of statistical observation:

Reporting - This is an organizational form of statistical observation, in which information is received by statistical bodies from observation units in the form of mandatory reports on their activities within strictly established periods and in a certain order.

Reporting is the main form of statistical observation and one of the main sources of information about the socio-economic development of the country.

All forms of statistical reporting are approved by state statistics bodies.

Statistical reporting is divided into national (mandatory for all enterprises, organizations, etc. without exception) and intradepartmental (operating within a separate ministry, department) reporting.

In terms of the frequency of reporting, reporting can be periodic (submitted at regular intervals) or one-time (submitted as needed)

Specially organized surveillance - is an observation organized for a specific purpose to obtain data that is usually not contained in reports, and is usually carried out discontinuously at certain intervals (for example, a population census)

Types of statistical observation:

a) depending on the completeness of observation coverage of units of the object under study, the following are distinguished:

• Continuous observation - this is an observation in which all units of the population being studied are examined without exception (for example, a country’s population census).
• Partial observation - this is an observation in which not all units of the population being studied are examined, but only part of them.

In statistical practice, several types of incomplete observation are used - selective, monographic and the main array method.

Sampling is an observation based on the principle of random selection of those units of the population being studied that should be subjected to observation.

In monographic observation, only individual units of the population that are characteristic in some respect (the best, typical, etc.) will be examined, which are subject to a detailed statistical description.

The main array method is that the largest units are examined, which together have a predominant share in the aggregate according to the main characteristic or characteristics for this study

b) depending on the time factor, there are:

· Ongoing (continuous) surveillance - this is an observation that is carried out constantly, systematically and the registration of facts is carried out as they occur (for example, registration of civil status acts: births, deaths, marriages, divorces)

· Periodic observation - this is an observation that is repeated at certain, regular intervals (for example, monthly, quarterly, annual reports)

· One-time observation - this is an observation that is carried out as needed or is carried out once and is not repeated

c) depending on the source of information, the following are distinguished:

• Direct observation - this is an observation in which the registrars themselves, by direct inspection, measurement, weighing or counting, establish a fact and, on this basis, make an entry in the observation form (for example, an inventory of property)
• Documentary observation - this is an observation that involves recording answers to questions in a form based on the relevant primary accounting documents of enterprises, institutions and organizations (for example, collecting data on student performance based on test and examination records)
• Survey - this is an observation in which the answers to the questions of the observation form are recorded from the words of the interviewee

Methods of statistical observation:

Reporting method- consists in the mandatory submission by reporting enterprises and organizations of reports on their activities within a specified time frame and in a certain manner

Expeditionary method- consists in the fact that specially involved and trained workers visit each observation unit, fill out the observation form themselves and deliver them to the statistical authorities

Self-registration method- is that the statistical observation forms are filled out by the respondents themselves, and specially hired workers provide the respondents with observation forms, instruct them, collect the completed forms, check their correctness and deliver them to the statistical authorities

Questionnaire method - this is the collection of statistical data using special questionnaires (questionnaires) sent to a certain circle of people or published in periodicals

Correspondent method- consists in the fact that statistical authorities agree with certain persons who voluntarily undertake the obligation to monitor any phenomena, processes and report the results of observations to statistical authorities within a specified time frame. Statistical authorities provide correspondents with observation forms, instructions and other necessary materials for conducting statistical observation

Appearance method- lies in the fact that persons who have information that is subject to registration during observation, and are obliged to provide it, themselves appear at the place of registration and report this information

Control questions

1. The concept of statistical observation, its organization and tasks.

2. Organizational forms, types and methods of statistical observation.

3. Program and methodological issues of statistical observation.

4. Organizational plan and forms of statistical observation.

5. The concept of place and time of statistical observation.

6. Observation errors, methods for checking the reliability of observational data.

List of used literature

Main literature

1. Gusarov V.M. Statistics: Textbook. manual for universities.-M: UNITY-DANA, 2005*

2. Statistics: Educational and practical. allowance / Under. ed. M.G. Nazarova.- M.: KNORUS, 2006*

additional literature

1. Statistics: Textbook / Ed. I.I. Eliseeva.-M.: Higher Education, 2006;*

2. Statistics: Textbook / Ed. V.G. Ionin.-3rd ed., revised. and additional - M.: INFRA-M, 2008*;

3. Statistics: Textbook / Ed. B.C. Mkhitaryan.-M.: Economist, 2005*;

4. Statistics: Textbook / Ed. V.M. Simchery.- M.: Finance and Statistics, 2005*;

5. Theory of Statistics: Textbook / Ed. R.A. Shmoilova.-5th ed.- M.: Finance and Statistics, 2008*;

6. Salin V.N., Churilova E.Yu. A course in the theory of statistics for training specialists in financial and economic profiles: Textbook. - M.: Finance and Statistics, 2006