Workshops planning for 2001 census

Principal Investigator

Dates

1st November 1996 - 30th June 1998

Grant

ESRC Award

Summary

The Census of Population is a very large exercise in data collection and processing. In 2001 some 25 million households in the United Kingdom, containing 60 million individuals, will be contacted and asked to provide answers to a simple questionnaire of 25 to 30 questions.

It is essential that the Population Census is very carefully planned beforehand and that the greatest possible value is extracted from the data collected.

It is vital that a strong case for the purchase of census data for use in the academic sector is constructed. To do this a project entitled 'Workshops Planning For The 2001 Census: Determining Academic Needs And Strategy' has been carried out.

The project had five broad aims: (1) to prepare the case for the ESRC/JISC purchase of 2001 Census data sets and to prepare the case for a Census Programme and suggest directions it might take; (2) to prepare options for ESRC/JISC on the dissemination of data sets; (3) to prepare proposals to the Census Offices on census questions, methods and products; (4) to prepare proposals to the Census Offices on collaborative ventures; and (5) to advise on a strategy for negotiations with the Census Offices.

The aims were achieved by holding the following six consultative Workshops in 1997-98:

What Geography Do We Want? (University of Leeds, January 1998)
What Interfaces Do We Want? (University of Manchester, May 1997)
Special Datasets: What Do We Want? (Royal Geographical Society, London, September 1997)
What Do We Really Really Want? (University of Leeds, May 1998)
Population and Migration Information (University of Guildford, January 1998)
ESRC/ONS Census Projects Workshop (Office for National Statistics, Titchfield, April 1998)

In addition, a survey of the opinion of academic census users was undertaken in summer 1997.

At the Workshops Census users presented and discussed views on what data should be produced from the 2001 Census of Population. A report on each Workshop has been prepared incorporating the papers and associated recommendations.

A total of 203 recommendations addressed to the Census Offices were put forward. Highlights from this long list are as follows.

Questions in the 2001 Census
Census users wanted new questions on income, the Irish, mixed ethnicity and all household relationships. They were unenthusiastic about new questions on religion, language, gardens or floor level of housing.

Concepts & Methods in the 2001 Census
They supported the proposals of the UK Census Offices to count students at their term time residence, to carry out a project post census to estimate missing persons and households and to have householders post back thee census form

Small Area Statistics from the 2001 Census
There were many views about the best geography to use for compiling small area statistics from the 2001 Census, but there was a majority in favour of creating output areas from unit postcodes and against using census collection areas (the traditional practice).

Relating Small Areas in the 2001 Census to earlier Censuses and Different Geographies
Census users saw it as essential that they be provided with the means of comparing 2001 statistics for areas with earlier censues quickly and easily. They also felt strongly that the Census Offices provide the means for converting the 2001 Census information to new areas that would inevitably appear because of local government or Post Office changes to boundaries.

Public Use Samples of Household and Individual Data
Users recommended production of these very useful samples again in 2001, with additional geographic detail being added to the samples of individuals so that there would be a sample for each local authority in the country.

Migration Statistics from the 2001 Census
Workshop participants recommended a radical over-haul of these data, which were problematic and expensive in the 1991 Census. Users proposed that much better migration tables be included in the Area Statistics and that migration flow data be made available in forms easier to access and understand.

Workplace Statistics from the 2001 Census
Users felt that much better quality control was needed for these statistics, particularly in ensuring that workplaces were accurately gecoded. As with the migration statistics, users recommended more provision of Workplace Statistics in the standard area statistics and that the simplicity of the flow data supplied in 1991 be preserved in 2001.

The Longitudinal Study
These data link individuals between censuses to build up life histories. Users were very keen to see these sample lives extended to the 2001 Census so that they could study the changes in people’s lives over three decades (1971-81, 1981-91, 1991-2001).

Computer Access to Census Statistics
Users wanted the freest possible access to the large data sets that would come out of the 2001 Census. The recommended way to achieve this goal was to develop user friendly screens accessible over the Internet, screens that could be navigated intuitively given access to on-line information about the census statistics.

This project has established the academic requirements for the 2001 Census of Population in the United Kingdom. The questionnaire results and the reports on the Workshops are being currently used in the negotiations between ESRC/JISC and the UK Census Offices.

Main results

Academics were given the opportunity to pass recommendations to the Census organisers.
203 recommendations addressed to the Census Offices were put forward.

For further information see...

Rees, P.H. (1999) 'The 2001 Census of Population: what does the White Paper propose?' Environment and Planning A, 31, 7, 1141-1148. ISSN 0308 518X.

You may like to look at Working paper 98/8, or visit the The ESRC/JISC Census of Population Programme webpage.

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