1. Electronic Data Collection at Statistics Canada
Kevin Roberts
10th Meeting of the
Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
May 2016

2. History of Electronic Collection
Electronic data reporting platform in place since 2003/04
The concept of a fully functional web-based questionnaire introduced in 2008/09
Increased demands from respondents for the move to e-questionnaires, to reduce burden, to create efficiencies, to ensure security
Web-based questionnaires with simple edits evaluated once data submitted – ongoing study and improvement
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

3. Types of Electronic Collection
Electronic questionnaires (EQ)
Completed by respondent; web based
Follow-up completed by interviewer
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews
Completed by interviewer
Electronic file transfers
Data dumps from respondents, administrative data sources
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

4. Objectives/Advantages (1)
Reduced respondent burden
Improved response time and timeliness of cycle
Green initiative: save paper
Ensured privacy, confidentiality of data
Improved data quality through built-in edits, on-line help
Efficiencies generated
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

5. Objectives/Advantages (2)
Opportunity to standardize:
Design – common look and feel
Tools – built-in edits, instructions, help
Training manuals – common training for systems and shorter content-specific training
Collection strategies
Reports
Standardization should lead to efficiencies, quality, re-using best practices, transportable skills for staff
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

6. Objectives/Advantages (3)
Elimination of redundant capacity and collection applications (infrastructure)
Optimize the use of collection staff and systems
Fewer resources required to develop and maintain standardized tools
Development – fewer platforms to build, maintain
Testing – fewer platforms to test, integrate
Exploit and optimize the use of the web-based collection tool
Lower collection costs
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

7. Initial Concerns with EQ Collection (1)
Change management: Defining new roles and responsibilities, training, communication
Development of web-based functionalities
Ensuring uptake rates, response rates
Determining the optimal collection strategies:
Number of e-reminders and follow-ups
Respondent tolerance to edits
Need for metrics about why some respondents are not using web-based reporting tools
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

8. Initial concerns with EQ Collection (2)
Managing new functionalities:
Pre-fill authorization
Attachments
Respondents who must reply for multiple surveys
Surveys with multiple respondents
Delinquent responders
Live updates
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

9. 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
Early results
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

10. EQ in the Energy Statistics Program
Annual and monthly surveys moving to EQ format
Challenges:
New survey content being introduced at same time
Some respondents don’t fill in questionnaires, but rather send data dumps
Functionality needs to improve
Move to a new processing system being introduced at the same time (IBSP)
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

11. 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
Summary
Electronic collection: evolving, improving, many advantages
Energy program moving into that world
Future opportunities for using Big Data?
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018

12. 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
Questions? Comments?
10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics
03/12/2018