The ninth meeting of the Consortium Board was held from 11 to 12 March 2004 in Paris (France) at the Institut National d’Etudes Demographiques Mr. François Héran chaired the meeting.

Questionnaire Development Group 1 (QDG 1)

The QDG 1 has finalized the core questionnaire and the sub-modules, which have been approved by the CB in October 2003. The questionnaire has started to be used in the countries and very positive reaction has come up from the field. The core questionnaire is about 65 minutes as far as the English version is concerned. New pilot studies will be implemented this year in Poland, Austria and Germany. The use of the core questionnaire is compulsory. However, the additional use of the approved modules is strongly recommended. Modification of the core questionnaire is discouraged in order to ensure international comparability. However, countries are allowed to add nationally relevant modules, other than the CB approved modules. It was announced that fieldwork is planned for October, November of 2004. A manual to guide the interviewer will be available to the next IWG in Spetses. A justification of the questionnaire with an academic orientation will also be available soon.

Questionnaire Development Group 2 (QDG 2)

As to the QDG 2, recently created, Zsolt Spéder accepted to be the coordinator. The group will have to deal with the content of the questionnaire for wave 2. The Board agreed that the wave 2 questionnaire be as similar as possible to the wave 1 questionnaire.

Contextual Database Working Group (CDWG)

The Contextual Database Working Group stated that the approach chosen is to start from already existing databases and to create a collection of national databases. A linkage of contextual variables and the GGS have been proposed. On the basis of this schematic representation the group will define priorities, topics, which will result in a list of variables. The group will also initialize and coordinate country pilots.

Study Design and Sampling WG (SDSWG)

The Study Design and Sampling WG meet in June 2003 in Ottawa. It recommended the use of the probability sampling method, which ensures high quality and also recommended clustering.

Administrative Records Group (ARG)

As for the Administrative Records Group, it met last October 2003.

Analysis Group (AG)

The Analysis Group has postponed its real launch because, except for a short meeting in Prague in February 2003, the group never met. The Board confirmed the role of the Analysis Group as promoting scientific analysis of GGP data.

What’s new?

As to the criteria for participation in GGP Programme, a list of the minimum conditions that countries willing to enter into the programme will have to fulfil in order to be accepted as a member of the Programme has been established and is the following:

• Using the core questionnaire
• Using scientific probability sample design
• Using a sample size of sufficient size
• Allowing open access to data
• Providing data within 18 months after completion of fieldwork

The CB will be the authority to give GGP membership, on the advise of PAU.

Training courses for countries carrying out the survey in the near future will be held on the following subjects:

• Study design, sample maintenance and how to deal with attrition
• Multilevel data analysis
• Ways to synthesise information