Relevance
The survey on
ICT usage in Households and by Individuals (ICT-HH) has the aim to obtain
relevant indicators on the use of information and communication technology by
individuals, as well as the overall availability of computer and internet facilities
in households. The scope is to measure progress in relationship to the Digital
Agenda for Europe and EU2020 targets.
It is designed
to satisfy the concepts and definitions of Regulation (EC) No. 808/2004 and
subsequent implementing regulations.
Methodological description of survey
For the purpose
of this survey, a stratified random sample of 1,500 individuals is selected
each year. This is subdivided by gender, age, and district. The target population for this survey covers
individuals living in households, aged between 16 and 74.
Apart from the
annual benchmarking indicators, the ICT survey incorporates annual ad-hoc
modules, with the aim of measuring the introduction and progress of new
technologies.
The survey is
conducted on an annual basis, and a letter is sent to the selected
individuals informing them that they have been chosen to take part in the ICT
survey. Subsequently, an interviewer
phones and sets an appointment with the respondent in order to visit and fill
in the questionnaire. Interviews are only
contacted by phone in cases when a face-to-face interview is refused.
The data collected is being partly financed by a grant provided by the European Commission.
Accuracy and reliability of data
Information on
the accuracy and reliability of data is available in a dedicated quality report
on the NSO’s metadata website.
Timeliness and punctuality of data
A news release
is published locally in the first quarter following the end of the reference
year and data is transmitted to Eurostat in the fourth quarter of the reference
year.
Accessibility and clarity of data
After the
collection of ICT-HH data, a quality report is produced and sent annually to
Eurostat. A similar report is available
on the NSO’s metadata website.
In the past,
publications related to ICT usage by individuals and households were also
published. These were the Survey on ICT
Usage in Households 2002 and ICT Usage by Enterprises and Households for reference years 2010 and 2011.
Coherence and comparability/consistency of data
The main
benchmarking indicators for the digital agenda have been collected since 2005
and are consistently comparable over time.
The model
questionnaire used locally is the same one used in all European Union member
states. Minor differences may result from discrepancies in the survey-vehicle,
in the treatment of non-response, and in the interviewing period. Nonetheless, differences are minimal,
particularly in view of a common methodology.
Questionnaire | Metadata