APPENDIX E: TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE CONTROL SURVEYS
This Technical Appendix refers to the analytical framework for the data from the control surveys.
Sampling Strategy
The sampling strategy and details of the final sample size and breakdown by level of study is contained in Chapter 1.
Weighting Strategy
The data was initially broken down by the two groups, student and non-student control. These groups were weighted against the population totals found in the SQA data.
The final totals were as follows:
Student control 274
Non-student control 90
The population totals which were used to weight the variables were the relevant SQA totals for the year 2006-07.
Given the size of the two samples it was not considered sensible to weight by variables other than age and sex. In line with the main survey analysis strategy, weights in excess of 4.5 were to be trimmed. In this respect, the student control 19 year old males weight was adjusted. The final sets of weights were then adjusted to bring the un-weighted and weighted totals back into line for both the sub-samples.
Weighting Tables
Table E.1: Student control
Student Control | Male | Female |
|---|
Age |
|---|
19 | 4.484536 | 0.986144 |
|---|
20 | 1.377229 | 0.903512 |
|---|
21 | 1.355273 | 0.667914 |
|---|
Table E.2: Non-student control
Student Control | Male | Female |
|---|
Age |
|---|
19 | 0.905676 | 0.46065 |
|---|
20 | 1.470479 | 1.20586 |
|---|
21 | 1.236010 | 0.679462 |
|---|
Construction of Variables
The grouped variables were the same as those reported for the main survey.
Time Periods
The survey respondents were asked to give figures for all the income, expenditure and debts questions in weeks, months or years in order to make it easier for them to reply and to maximise the completed responses. These responses then had to be annualised. In line with the main survey, an annual period of 36 weeks was applied.