Analysis

Description:

Now that we have come to the end of a day of workshops plus three very full days of sessions, I have the very pleasant task of offering a few closing remarks and, more importantly, of recognizing the efforts of those who have contributed to the success of this year's symposium. And it has clearly been a success.

Description:

Now that we have come to the end of a day of workshops plus two very full days of sessions, I have the very pleasant task of offering a few closing remarks and, more importantly, of recognizing the efforts of those who have contributed to the success of this year's symposium. And it has clearly been a success.

Description:

The Population Estimates Program of Statistics Canada has traditionally been benchmarked to the most recent census, with no allowance for census coverage error. Because of a significant increase in the level of undercoverage in the 1986 Census, however, Statistics Canada is considering the possibility of adjusting the base population of the estimates program for net census undercoverage. This paper develops and compares four estimators of such a base population: the unadjusted census counts, the adjusted census counts, a preliminary test estimator, and a composite estimator. A generalization of previously-proposed risk functions, known as the Weighted Mean Square Error (WMSE), is used as the basis of comparison. The WMSE applies not only to population totals, but to functions of population totals such as population shares and growth rates between censuses. The use of the WMSE to develop and evaluate small-area estimators in the context of census adjustment is also described.

Description: The oil crisis of the mid-1970’s triggered a new awareness among Canadians of the importance of energy conservation. The resulting government programs in the transportation sector demanded basic data about on-the-road fuel consumption by motor vehicles operating in Canadian conditions. This paper describes the Passenger Car Fuel Consumption Survey which was developed jointly by Statistics Canada and Transport Canada to meet this need. The methodology of the survey is described and some examples of the results are presented. The paper concludes with some speculation about future directions for the survey and for vehicle-usage statistics in general.

Description:

The modern statistical survey is an effective method of meeting the ever-increasing demand for timely and accurate data. One important component of the statistical survey is the questionnaire. This article discusses the role of the questionnaire in meeting the needs of users, the relationship of the questionnaire to the other components of survey design, and the effect of the questionnaire on the quality of survey data. The importance of viewing the questionnaire as an integral part of the total survey design is stressed.

Description: This article summarizes the findings of a study of the feasibility of an on-going labour force survey in the Yukon Territory. The major aspects of methodology considered are the choice of a sampling frame and the determination of a sample size and allocation. It is shown that area sampling would be preferable to the use of available lists, although substantial field testing would be required because of conditions particular to the Yukon. It is also observed that sampling fractions as high as 15% may be required to produce basic labour force data, because of the small population.

Description:

Now that we have come to the end of a day of workshops plus three very full days of sessions, I have the very pleasant task of offering a few closing remarks and, more importantly, of recognizing the efforts of those who have contributed to the success of this year's symposium. And it has clearly been a success.

Description:

Now that we have come to the end of a day of workshops plus two very full days of sessions, I have the very pleasant task of offering a few closing remarks and, more importantly, of recognizing the efforts of those who have contributed to the success of this year's symposium. And it has clearly been a success.

Description:

The Population Estimates Program of Statistics Canada has traditionally been benchmarked to the most recent census, with no allowance for census coverage error. Because of a significant increase in the level of undercoverage in the 1986 Census, however, Statistics Canada is considering the possibility of adjusting the base population of the estimates program for net census undercoverage. This paper develops and compares four estimators of such a base population: the unadjusted census counts, the adjusted census counts, a preliminary test estimator, and a composite estimator. A generalization of previously-proposed risk functions, known as the Weighted Mean Square Error (WMSE), is used as the basis of comparison. The WMSE applies not only to population totals, but to functions of population totals such as population shares and growth rates between censuses. The use of the WMSE to develop and evaluate small-area estimators in the context of census adjustment is also described.

Description: The oil crisis of the mid-1970’s triggered a new awareness among Canadians of the importance of energy conservation. The resulting government programs in the transportation sector demanded basic data about on-the-road fuel consumption by motor vehicles operating in Canadian conditions. This paper describes the Passenger Car Fuel Consumption Survey which was developed jointly by Statistics Canada and Transport Canada to meet this need. The methodology of the survey is described and some examples of the results are presented. The paper concludes with some speculation about future directions for the survey and for vehicle-usage statistics in general.

Description:

The modern statistical survey is an effective method of meeting the ever-increasing demand for timely and accurate data. One important component of the statistical survey is the questionnaire. This article discusses the role of the questionnaire in meeting the needs of users, the relationship of the questionnaire to the other components of survey design, and the effect of the questionnaire on the quality of survey data. The importance of viewing the questionnaire as an integral part of the total survey design is stressed.

Description: This article summarizes the findings of a study of the feasibility of an on-going labour force survey in the Yukon Territory. The major aspects of methodology considered are the choice of a sampling frame and the determination of a sample size and allocation. It is shown that area sampling would be preferable to the use of available lists, although substantial field testing would be required because of conditions particular to the Yukon. It is also observed that sampling fractions as high as 15% may be required to produce basic labour force data, because of the small population.