pp. 5-36

Statistics must be interpreted whether they are of administrative origin or from specific surveys. The interpretation of survey results is possible because the answers correspond to a general outline of thought or convention, and can partly be based on the figures themselves. Surveys on working conditions provide an example of this approach. The surprise caused by the 1991 survey which showed a sharp degradation since the previous survey in 1984, is at the origin of this question on the reasons for the evolution. Various causes related to the protocol of surveying are examined ; they most likely only had a limited impact. It is therefore necessary to look into the nature of the changes which have occurred in the state of the world observed through the survey : more objective working conditions, with different social processes ; intensification of work.