DCA_our methods

FORS is a reference bench in Switzerland regarding survey methodology and has many years of experience running large-scale national and international surveys. In addition, we are very active in methodological and substantive research.

We apply the highest level of scientific rigour; FORS is responsible for some of the most important national and international surveys in the social sciences in Switzerland. Many of our core surveys, such as the Swiss Electoral Studies and MOSAiCH, are carried out in-house using a combination of web and paper surveys. In addition, we carry out a wide range of surveys for clients from scientific institutions, non-profit organisation and public administrations from the federal to the municipal level. A selection of recent projects is available at the end of this page.

Methodological and scientific rigor

FORS is responsible for some of the most demanding surveys at the national and international level, such as the European Social Survey (ESS), the Survey on Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and the Swiss Electoral Studies (SELECTS). All these surveys set benchmarks in their respective fields and demand the highest methodological rigor.

Our team of specialists is active in a wide range of fields of academic research covering various branches of social sciences. They ensure that the strictest scientific and methodologic standards are applied from the definition of the questionnaire right through to data analysis and interpretation.

Experts in questionnaire design

Whether you already have a questionnaire or you would like FORS to design your questionnaire from scratch, we ensure that it is displayed in any form and on any device in a way that leads to high-quality data while minimising the bias due to the form in which the questionnaire is answered.

State-of-the-art tools and partners

We apply the latest technology to ensure the best possible experience for respondents and to guarantee data quality and comparability across different devices and forms. We are able to conduct complex experiments, short-term panel surveys, or surveys with special designs or populations.

FORS has strong ties to the main actors in social science research and to the federal authorities involved at different levels in the research, funding, and support in this field.

Experience with the Federal Statistical Office’s SRPH sampling frame

Most of our surveys use the sampling frame of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which offers numerous advantages, such as virtually complete coverage and basic sociodemographic information on target persons as well as on other household members. We apply our experience in working with the FSO to help you request and define samples and ensure that your samples are used in an optimal manner. To learn more about the sampling frame and find out whether your project qualifies, please visit the FSO’s Sampling Frame page.

Data linkage

FORS can also facilitate the linking of your data with data from the FSO or other sources. These can include administrative data at the individual level or contextual information (geographic, political, socioeconomic, etc.).