Statistical Analysis of the worklifewizard.org Web Survey

The Foundation has a longstanding interest in the character and conditions of work in America. In keeping with this tradition of research, economist Richard Freeman will refine and expand the reach of a new interactive online survey tool, worklifewizard.org, that collects data on labor and informs workers about employment issues. The site includes a number of features, including a salary calculator, job profiles, and a section on workers’ rights. Most interesting for social scientists is the survey on work conditions. Freeman plans to compare results from the web survey to data from larger, more representative surveys of workers. He will then develop a statistical theory that will enable researchers to use the results of internet surveys in order to make inferences about larger populations. Results of the project will be reported in a conceptual paper on the statistical challenges of web-based surveys.