Statistical surveys represent an important source of scientific knowledge and a valid decision support tool in many fields, from social studies to economics, market research, health studies, and others. Scientists have tackled most of the methodological issues concerning surveys and the scientific literature offers excellent proposals for planning and conducting surveys. Nevertheless, surveys often require the achievement of aims that either deviate from the methodology or do not have a specific solution at all. This book focuses on survey theory and applications, providing insight and innovative solutions to face problems in data collection and integration, complex sample design, opinion questionnaire design, and statistical estimation. Formal rigour and simple language, together with real-life examples, will make the book suitable to both practitioners involved in applied research and to academics interested in scientific developments in the survey field.

Nowadays statistical surveys represent an important source of scientific knowledge and a consolidated decision support tool in many fields of applications: from social sciences to economics, marketing, medicine, political science, etc. Most of the methodological issues concerning statistical surveys have been investigated by scientists so that the scientific literature offers a plenty of excellent references concerning all the required steps for planning and realizing them. Nevertheless, facing real problems through statistical surveys often requires looking for operative solutions deviating from the consolidated methodology or choosing through several options. The book will focus on theory and applications of statistical surveys, providing remarks and innovative solutions to face problems in survey practice. Topics covered in the book will include all the main issues regarding a planning of a statistical survey: data collection, sampling scheme, questionnaire definition, estimation. A good balance between formal rigor and clarity will allow the book be aimed to practitioners involved in applied research but also to academics interested in recent scientific developments in the field.