Gender-sensitive data: the state of the art in Europe*

Gender statistics play a crucial role in social research and in the creation of gender sensitive policies. Gender statistics document the situation of women and men around the world, making it easier to raise awareness about inequalities between them, to monitor gender equality and promote actionable change. There is thus a need to encourage awareness about gender statistics and their usefulness in gender mainstreaming. The paper has different aims: (1) to discuss the role of gender statistics and gender sensitive indicators; (2) to give an overview of the main gender sensitive European databases; (3) to present the European Commission Strategy on Gender Equality; (4) to display information collected by the European Institute for Gender Equality (Eige) database; (5) to promote proposal for increasing the gender sensitivity of social indicators.     

RANDOMISED RESPONSE VS. DIRECT QUESTIONING: ESTIMATING THE PREVALENCE OF ALCOHOL RELATED PROBLEMS IN A FIELD SURVEY

Fifteen hundred adults selected for a population survey from the City of Edinburgh Electoral Registers by probability sampling were allocated to randomised response interview or direct interview at random. These alternative interviewing strategies were adopted for two questions relating to attributes which might be considered stigmatising. There were no significant differences in reporting between the two methods either at aggregate or at subgroup level. The apparent failure of the randomised response method to increase estimates of the proportions with the attributes hypothesised indicates either that traditional methods are satisfactory for the collection of this sensitive information, or that randomised response was not an acceptable alternative.     

Sensitive parameters

Notions such as robustness and resistance of an estimator are well known and useful. These ideas have not been fully extended to functional parameters, although it seems natural to do so. In this paper we define a sensitive parameter as one for which small changes in the underlying distribution cause large changes in the parameter value. It is demonstrated that no nontrivial, nonparametric confidence procedure can exist for such a parameter. This extends a result of Bahadur and Savage ( 1956 ). The relationship between this definition and some standard concepts in robustness theory are explored, and implications for parametric inference are studied.     

数量特征敏感问题问卷设计

目前,数量特征敏感问题调查主要采用随机化策略,该策略需使用随机化装置,从而需要在现场实施。提出一种问卷设计技术,该技术用无关问题替代随机化装置,因而不需要调查者亲临现场,不受调查规模及调查单位聚散的限制,使得调查更加方便、实用、经济。给出了相应的无偏估计量,推算出估计量的方差和方差的估计量并举例说明。     

Revisit of a randomized response model for estimating a rare sensitive attribute under probability proportional to size sampling using Poisson probability distribution

The present article deals with the estimation of mean number of individuals possess a rare sensitive attribute using Poisson probability distribution, when the population consists of clusters. Unbiased estimation procedures for the mean number of individuals have been suggested and their properties are discussed when the parameter of a rare non-sensitive unrelated attribute is assumed to be known as well as unknown. The suggested estimation procedure is further discussed for situation of stratified cluster population. Empirical studies are carried out to show the dominance of proposed method and resultant estimators over a well-known contemporary estimator.     

Multi-character survery using randomized response technique

In the present paper, we have consisdered the situation of multi–character survey where the study variables, beside being poorly correlated with the selection probabilities are also sensitive in nature. Randomized Response technique (RRT) proposed by Chaudhuri and Adhikary (1990) is used to elicit the information on the sensitive character. The empirical study carried out shows the relative efficiency of the transformation suggested by Basnel and Singh (1985) over the transformations suggested by Rao (1966) and Amahia et al.(1989) under a super population model.     

Certain observations on lot sensitive sampling plan

This paper compares the sample size efficiency of the lot sensitive plan over the equivalent double and multiple sampling plans. It is shown that a fully curtailed lot sensitive plan will involve smaller average sample number than the equivalent double and multiple plans.     

随机化回答技术调查“敏感性问题”的博弈分析及设计改进——对一次沃纳方法调查实践的分析思考

沃纳方法等随机化回答技术是对“敏感性问题”调查的创新之举，但调查实践显示调查对象是否如实回答值得研究，博弈分析表明，随机化回答技术的有效性与调查对象对“群体性特征”的曝露是否敏感有关，据此，应改进调查设计和组织。     

Chemical Sensitivity in the Workplace

Abstract

The debate continues to rage in the medical community and amongst policy makers. This debate centers on a new disease mechanism commonly known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Magill and Suruda (1998) grouped the theories of etiology of MCS into four broad categories: physical, stress, misdiagnosis, and illness belief. A new name for this illness has recently been advanced as well, toxin-induced loss of tolerance (TILT). Problems with chemical sensitivity are especially troubling for workers and their employers. Employees seeking relief under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) are requesting accommodations based on their reactions to chemicals. Employers are beset with claims for accommodations in the workplace, disability claims, and worker's compensation claims. Courts are trying to make sense of chemical sensitivity with respect to accommodations in the workplace. Court decisions regarding MCS issues are varied and oftentimes highly controversial. Primary social problems and mental health issues associated with chemical sensitivities are economic costs and loss of enjoyment of life by MCS sufferers. Economic costs are spread throughout the system; however, their major manifestations are lost worker production, increased demands on services, and the long-term costs associated with supporting a growing disabled subset of the population comprised of chemically injured workers. Social and mental health costs are seen in escalating cases of depression, divorces, behavioral acting out, isolation, anxiety attacks, and chronic medical problems.

Social workers are particularly well suited to advocate for accommodations in the workplace and for social policy change on behalf of those suffering from chemical sensitivity. Their training in systems and ecosystems theory makes them well aware of the importance of the environment on the individual. That training includes knowledge of utilizing strengths based approach to problem solving, and clinical training in mental health, which leads to empowerment for the client.