Reliability and research methods

Abstract

The statistics for expenditure on fixed assets in this volume are not based on the compilation of systematic observations for a particular variable, such as is the case with most of the other statistics in this series. If one considers the historical scarcity of source data for the subject under consideration, it is indeed fortunate that by a stroke of luck there should exist relatively reliable and detailed source material for a large proportion of company investments during the period 1910–1939 (2.2–2.10). The fact that there existed reliable data for an even longer period of time for several sectors (e.g. railways, crude oil extraction, mining and several public utilities) is an additional bonus (Table 2). The reliability of all this material is discussed in paragraphs 3.2, 3.3.1–3.3.9 and in the commentary on Tables 2 and 3.