Random sampling is the representative collection of data from a section of the population or from another group under investigation that is selected randomly according to scientific principles.
It includes:
a structure survey: random sample survey on attributes that are not contained in the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings or in the harmonised official federal registers of persons of the Confederation, the cantons or the communes;
thematic random sample surveys: random sample surveys on various social, demographic and cultural subject areas.
The Federal Council shall issue more detailed regulations for each random sample survey and in particular on:
the subject matter of the survey;
the body responsible for the survey;
the periodicity;
the time;
the conduct of the survey;
the method.