14 September 2007
Today, Wednesday 4 July, the States of Jersey Statistics Unit launches the 2007 Jersey Annual Social Survey (JASS).
The Jersey Annual Social Survey is now in its third year and from the two previous rounds we have found that the public are very receptive and helpful in giving their opinions on the topics included. The statistics collected give everyone in the Island a better understanding of social issues, enabling policy to be developed from a more informed standpoint.
The survey is a result of close cross‑departmental working; the Statistics Unit runs the project, producing and publishing the results, whilst individual departments request the specific topics to be covered. This round represents the first time that we have repeated some of the questions from two years ago, allowing us to build up a picture of how public opinion on certain issues may have changed.
The survey has a set of core questions asked every year, covering population demographics, economic activity and household structure, and which are aimed at ensuring key censuses variables are updated annually. The department-specific topics covered in 2007 include: family and childcare issues; policing and fire safety; leisure activities; government communications and customer service; travel and transport; and health.
In total some 3,500 households have been sampled at random to receive the survey. To ensure that we cover all of the population, the household member aged over 16 who next celebrates a birthday is asked to complete the form.
Commenting on the survey Dr Duncan Gibaut, Head of the States of Jersey Statistics Unit, said: “This survey has proven to be a major step forward in official statistics for Jersey and its continued usefulness depends on the support of the public. From the good response to the pilot we ran in May, we know people found the form easy to complete and the topics interesting. ”
“I would like to reassure everyone that all responses to the survey will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only used to produce aggregate numbers. So if you do receive a form please complete it and send it back. By doing so you’ll help us all gain a better understanding of social issues in the Island.”
For further information on JASS please visit the Statistics Unit JASS website.
gov.je