Catherine Michalopoulou

In this article, by applying k-means clustering, cut-off points are obtained for the recoding of raw scale scores into a fixed number of groupings that preserve the original scoring. The method is demonstrated on a Likert scale measuring xenophobia that was used in a large-scale sample survey conducted in Northern Greece by the National Centre for Social Research. Applying split-half samples and fuzzy c-means clustering, the stability of the proposed solution is validated empirically. Testing its performance against three single indicators of xenophobia shows that it differentiates well between non-xenophobic and xenophobic respondents. The proposed method may be easily applied to facilitate interpretation by providing a more concise and meaningful “profile” of Likert scale (or subscale) raw scores especially the negative and positive ends of the scale for evaluation and social policy purposes.

This paper describes the establishment, development and evolution of national statistical offices worldwide. It is written to commemorate John Koren and other writers who more than a century ago published national statistical histories. We distinguish four broad periods: the establishment of the first statistical offices (1800-1914); the development after World War I and including World War II (1918-1944); the development after World War II including the extraordinary work of the United Nations Statistical Commission (1945-1974); and, finally, the development since 1975. Also, we report on what has been called a ``dark side of numbers'', i.e. ``how data and data systems have been used to assist in planning and carrying out a wide range of serious human rights abuses throughout the world''.

Investigating the structure and assessing the psychometric properties of Likert scales before their application is a prerequisite of scaling theory. However, there are instances in the literature where Likert scales that were developed as a multidimensional measurement of the underlying construct have been applied without first validating their structure and reporting on their reliability. In this paper, to discourage such applications, the required sequence of decisions for such an investigation and assessment based on current theory and practice is demonstrated using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short-form (PSQ-18), a six-dimensional Likert measurement instrument. Although the findings did not confirm the dimensionality of the PSQ-18, they did provide an overall valid and reliable scale, emphasizing the need of validating its structure before application.

Cross-national comparability of census data as uniformity was intensely debated from the First International Statistical Congress(ISC), held in Brussels at Quetelet's initiative in 1853, until an agreement was reached at the Eighth ISC, in St. Petersburg, in 1872. However, not much progress was made until the last half of the twentieth century, when the Statistical Commission of the United Nations issued the first set of principles and recommendations for the national population censuses in 1958. In this paper, the progress of statistical internationalism is investigated from Quetelet's vision of census data uniformity and the first international decision to conduct decennial censuses directed at the actual population to Kish's definition of cross-national sample survey comparability. The presentation is based on the detailed documentation of the Integrated Public Use Mictodata Series (IPUMS)-International. As this database is comprised of samples drawn from censuses, it relates to this first international decision on census data comparability.

This paper presents the evolution of the Greek statistical system and the journey towards the ``professional independence and accountability of statistical agencies'' which, according to the preamble of the resolution adopted by the United Nations Ge

The present paper explores the patterns of intergenerational educational mobility in Greece and their changes for different birth cohorts. Additionally, we investigate the transmission of educational attainments from both father and mother through generations over time, based on data drawn from the European Social Survey. The purpose is to determine the relationship between the individual’s and the parents’ probability distributions and to trace the transitions of individuals between educational categories. Our analysis provides Markov transition probability matrices and the absolute and relative mobility rates. Moreover, complementary analyses to these traditional methodologies are provided using distance and similarity measures.

In 1946, Neyman, Jessen, Deming, Kempthorne, Daly, and Blythe conducted a series of sample surveys as sampling experts of the two Allied Missions that were set up to observe the preparation and conduct of the Greek parliamentary elections (March 31) and the revision of electoral rolls for the plebiscite (September 1). This article revisits these surveys, using both published and unpublished sources, and discusses the lessons learned from their history as they relate to current sampling practices.