1 Improving ecological inference with survey data

Statistical methods for ecological inference are advanced. The drawback of ecological inference at present is not with the availability of statistical technology but the lack of information. More reliable inference can be made with the combination of aggregate and individual level data, i.e. survey data. Proposals for making amended inference on the basis of changing the way of collecting information has been made. Instead of the use of customary multistage stratified sampling plans the first step in sampling should be a spatial (area) sampling, and within that framework the conventional multistage stratified sampling be made. Recent developments within the last ten years in sophisticated statistical methods bring the solution of ecological fallacy close to data analysts. An improved estimate of participation in adult education has been calculated using both individual and aggregate data with an easy to use Ecoreg software in R