1. Scotland’s Census Quality Survey 2011 Neil Jackson General Register Office for Scotland

2. Agenda Background Overview of CQS Use of IT in 2011 2011 survey design 2009 rehearsal experience Summary

3. Why have a quality survey? Self-completion census Provide measure of reliability Feed into future censuses

4. Format of CQS Post enumeration survey Samples households that have responded to census Re-asks census questions and compares results Asks reason for any discrepancies

5. You’ve just told me that you have a mortgage, but in the census you said you own the house outright. Which was correct on census day? I have a mortgage. I must have misunderstood the question on the census. Correct response: Owns with a mortgage Reason for difference: Misunderstood question Example 1

6. You’ve just told me that you are retired, but in the census you said you were working full time. Which was correct on census day? I was working on census day, but I have since retired. Correct response: Full-time employee Reason for difference: No difference Example 2

7. Output Quality report giving accuracy rate for each question Some examples from 2001: sex99.9% hours worked 80.2% qualifications60.6% number of rooms77.5%

8. Use of laptops Lightweight mini-laptop Preloaded with relevant census data All data encrypted Microsoft Access application Regular uploads to census HQ

9. Sample screenshot

10. Example 1: Same response

12. Example 2: Equivalent response

15. Example 3: Different response

18. Sample design 1000 households Not random Three areas of different types: –Urban –Rural –Semi-rural/market town Early census returns only Results still useful

19. Fieldwork design 3 teams of 7 interviewers (including manager) 50 households each Assistant interviewers Interview takes up to 1 hour Household and person questions

20. Lessons from rehearsal Carry out as soon as possible after census day –Memory effect –Movers Don’t ask about overnight visitors Upload from home via broadband Security features must be unobtrusive

21. Some results from the rehearsal Self-contained accommodation98.7% Country of birth 99.5% Number of rooms66.0% Nature of disability75.6%

23. Summary CQS gives measure of accuracy levels Use of IT in field 1000 households in selected areas Rehearsed in 2009