Survey on Households and the Environment, 2008 (SHE)

Summary

The regional statistical offices and the National Statistics Institute (INE) started collaborating to implement in Spain, in 2006, the basis for the European Household Survey (EHS). As no decision was made at the European level, INE planned to carry out this EHS 2008 in Spain, adapting it to the Eurostat methodological guidelines and contents. The two main goals were to search for the habits, consumption patterns and attitudes of households in relation to the environment and to study the household equipment and the uses regarding some environmental aspects (energy saving, reduction of energy consumption, waste separation, etc.) in order to formulate environmental policies. Debugging, coding and recording procedures were homogenized in all regions according to the INE common rules in order to achieve maximum comparability. Questionnaires were translated into specific regional language for the regions with two co-official languages. Strengths: This was the first Spanish initiative in surveying environmental conditions.

Type of data

Data Source
Survey

Type of Study
Crosssection occasional

Data gathering method
Face-to-face
Other: Depending on regions, other methods (telephone, Internet or CAPI) were used.

Access to data

Conditions of access
On site free access to defined tables and microdata files for scientific purpose and elaboration. Notes for general use and for media. - Free access in Spanish and English to tables (http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft25%2Fp500&file=inebase&L=0) - Anonymized microdata in Spanish and English (http://www.ine.es/en/prodyser/micro_hogmed_en.htm)

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
Aggregated and elaborated tables. Raw anonymised microdata.

Formats available
ASCII zip file following a register design file (EXCEL format)

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
Data were collected from April to September 2008 with a sample size of 27,832 dwellings (26,689 effective dwellings and 24,571 individuals). It was a multi-stage, stratified survey of main dwellings and one resident, aged 17 or older, was interviewed.

First year of collection
2008

Stratification if applicable
Dwellings, households and individuals aged 17 and over

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
All of Spain and its regions

Age range
Population aged 17 and over

Statistical representativeness
Population representative

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
- Dwellings: Water (source of drinking water, saving devices, consumption habits) Energy (sources, heating, air conditioning, thermal insulation) Waste (separation, availability of containers, waste disposal sites) Equipment and use of housing in relation to the environment (big and small appliances, frequency of use) Noise and bad smell problems (intensity, causes, measures taken) Transport and mobility (household transportation modes, data on cars and use) Lifestyles and consumption patterns (habits regarding saving energy, waste and recycling, frequency) - Individuals: Consumption habits (water, transportation modes and frequency – public, private) Environment self-perception and activities fostering environmental consciousness Classification variables are: - Dwellings: regions, municipal size, household type and size, income - Household reference member: sex, age, nationality, educational level, economic activity - All individual interviewed: regions, municipal size, sex, age, country of birth, nationality, civil status, educational level, economic activity, occupational status

Linkage

Standardisation
Only some classification variables (economic activity, occupation) are harmonized to the Spanish standards

Possibility of linkage among databases
No

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
Treatment of non-response and debugging rules were common following the statistical procedures of the Regional Statistical Offices and the INE. EHMA assessment report on non-response can be accessed in Spanish (http://www.ine.es/daco/daco43/t2530p500_evaluacion.pdf).

Breaks
No changes in methodology or definitions as it is a unique survey

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
Same definitions as those existing in similar social surveys are used in EHS 2008 to ensure comparability between different sources in terms of the common characteristics.

Governance

Contact information
Social Statistics and Analyses Directorate
Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spanish Statistical Office, INE)
Castellana 183
28071 Madrid Spain Phone: 91 583 91 00
Email: infoine(at)ine.es
Url: http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft25%2Fp500&file=inebase&L=0

Timeliness, transparency
Data was collected from Sept. 30, 2008 to April 22, 2009. Data are available for users almost one year later.