Thematic surveys

The thematic surveys are carried out through random sampling. The statistics from these surveys can be used to add considerable depth to the information from the structural survey. The first results are available one year after the collection of data from the respondents has been concluded.

Characteristics of thematic surveys

• telephone sample survey of 10,000 to 40,000 persons;
• one thematic survey conducted annually;
• cantons and cities can enlarge the sample;
• a repetition of the same theme every five years is planned;
• information on specific themes at the level of Switzerland and the major regions.

Survey cycle of thematic surveys

The cycle is organised according to a 5-year rhythm which is an adequate interval, as the annual information from the structural survey gives a general overview of the most important changes. These theme areas usually evolve slowly and at a steady rate. The methods for conducting surveys, including their timing and frequency, are specified in the annex to the Swiss Federal Ordinance on Federal Statistical Surveys.

Enlargement of the sample size of thematic surveys

Thematic surveys are carried out every year using a sample size of 10,000 people. An exception to this is the “Microcensus on Mobility and Transport”, which has a sample size of 40,000 people, providing regionalised data in respect of the Confederation's agglomeration policy.

According to Art. 22 of the Ordinance on the Federal Population Census, the cantons and interested federal offices can request an enlargement of the sample size of thematic surveys which are evenly distributed over the territory of a canton. If the distribution is uneven, although it would be possible to obtain relatively precise results for individual regions, this would require a more complex weighting procedure and would limit the pertinence of the results for the cantons that supplemented their surveys.

The procedure enabling the cantons and interested federal offices to supplement the samples of the thematic surveys should be determined when the various surveys are designed.

 

More information about the thematic surveys:

Further thematic surveys

Mobility and transport microcensus (MTMC)

Swiss Adult Education Survey

Swiss Health Survey