Analysis

Description:

Blaise has been in development in Statistics Canada since 1997. Over the years, the complexity of applications that have been deployed using this software is constantly increasing. Last year a very interesting approach has been developed to read bio-metrics directly from medical instruments, and input them into the Blaise software. This presentation will elaborate on this new usage of the software that just opens the door to an infinity of different applications and the added data quality of performing collection in this manner.

Description:

In this paper the background of the eXtensible Business Reporting Language and the involvement of Statistics Netherlands in the Dutch Taxonomy Project are discussed. The discussion predominantly focuses on the statistical context of using XBRL and the Dutch Taxonomy for expressing data terms to companies.

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Statistics Canada has embarked on a program of increasing and improving the usage of imaging technology for paper survey questionnaires. The goal is to make the process an efficient, reliable and cost effective method of capturing survey data. The objective is to continue using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to capture the data from questionnaires, documents and faxes received whilst improving the process integration and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QC) of the data capture process. These improvements are discussed in this paper.

Description:

In a multi-divisional initiative within the U. S. Census Bureau, a highly sophisticated and innovative system was developed and implemented for the capturing, tracking, and scanning of respondent data that implements Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Optical Mark Recognition (OMR), and keying technology with heavy emphasis on error detection and control. The system, known as the integrated Computer Assisted Data Entry (iCADE) System, provides digital imaging of respondent questionnaires which are then processed by a combination of imaging algorithms, sent through Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) to collect check box data, and automatically collect and send only write-in areas to data-keying staff for the data capture process. These capabilities have produced great efficiencies in the data capture process and have led to a novel and efficient approach to post-collection activities.

Description:

RTI International is currently conducting a longitudinal education study. One component of the study involved collecting transcripts and course catalogs from high schools that the sample members attended. Information from the transcripts and course catalogs also needed to be keyed and coded. This presented a challenge because the transcripts and course catalogs were collected from different types of schools, including public, private, and religious schools, from across the nation and they varied widely in both content and format. The challenge called for a sophisticated system that could be used by multiple users simultaneously. RTI developed such a system possessing all the characteristics of a high-end, high-tech, multi-user, multitask, user-friendly and low maintenance cost high school transcript and course catalog keying and coding system. The system is web based and has three major functions: transcript and catalog keying and coding, transcript and catalog keying quality control (keyer-coder end), and transcript and catalog coding QC (management end). Given the complex nature of transcript and catalog keying and coding, the system was designed to be flexible and to have the ability to transport keyed and coded data throughout the system to reduce the keying time, the ability to logically guide users through all the pages that a type of activity required, the ability to display appropriate information to help keying performance, and the ability to track all the keying, coding, and QC activities. Hundreds of catalogs and thousands of transcripts were successfully keyed, coded, and verified using the system. This paper will report on the system needs and design, implementation tips, problems faced and their solutions, and lessons learned.

Description:

Keynote address

Description:

Background: Evaluation of the coverage that results from linking routinely collected administrative hospital data with survey data is an important preliminary step to undertaking analyses based on the linked file. Data and methods: To evaluate the coverage of the linkage between data from cycle 1.1 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and in-patient hospital data (Health Person-Oriented Information or HPOI), the number of people admitted to hospital according to HPOI was compared with the weighted estimate for CCHS respondents who were successfully linked to HPOI. Differences between HPOI and the linked and weighted CCHS estimate indicated linkage failure and/or undercoverage. Results: According to HPOI, from September 2000 through November 2001, 1,572,343 people (outside Quebec) aged 12 or older were hospitalized. Weighted estimates from the linked CCHS, adjusted for agreement to link and plausible health number, were 7.7% lower. Coverage rates were similar for males and females. Provincial rates did not differ from those for the rest of Canada, although differences were apparent for the territories. Coverage rates were significantly lower among people aged 75 or older than among those aged 12 to 74.

Description:

The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) provides timely estimates of health information at the sub-provincial level. We explore two main issues that prevented us from using physical activity data from CCHS cycle 3.1 (2005) as part of the Profile of Women's Health in Manitoba. CCHS uses the term 'moderate' to describe physical effort that meets Canadian minimum guidelines, whereas 'moderate' conversely describes sub-minimal levels of activity. A Manitoba survey of physical activity interrogates a wider variety of activities to measure respondents' daily energy expenditure. We found the latter survey better suited to our needs and more likely a better measure of women's daily physical activity and health.

Description:

This paper will focus on establishment survey questionnaire design guidelines. More specifically, it will discuss the process involved in transitioning a set of guidelines written for a broad, survey methodological audience to a more narrow, agency-specific audience of survey managers and analysts. The process involved the work of a team comprised of individuals from across the Census Bureau's Economic Directorate, working in a cooperative and collaborative manner. The team decided what needed to be added, modified, and deleted from the broad starting point, and determined how much of the theory and experimental evidence found in the literature was necessary to include in the guidelines. In addition to discussing the process, the paper will also describe the end result: a set of questionnaire design guidelines for the Economic Directorate.

Description:

A major issue in official statistics is the availability of objective measures supporting the based-on-fact decision process. Istat has developed an Information System to assess survey quality. Among other standard quality indicators, nonresponse rates are systematically computed and stored for all surveys. Such a rich information base permits analysis over time and comparisons among surveys. The paper focuses on the analysis of interrelationships between data collection mode and other survey characteristics on total nonresponse. Particular attention is devoted to the extent to which multi-mode data collection improves response rates.

Description:

This fact sheet provides information on the proportion of the school-age population - defined as children and youth aged 5 to 24 - living in low-income circumstances, including the duration of low-income spells, using data from Statistics Canada's Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID). The percentage of children in low-income is calculated based on Statistics Canada's low income cut-offs (LICOs), using data on family income after government benefits are received and after federal and provincial taxes are paid.

Description:

The information in this document is intended primarily to be used by scientific and technological (S&T) policy makers, both federal and provincial, largely as a basis for inter-provincial and inter-sectoral comparisons. The statistics are aggregates of the provincial government and provincial research organization science surveys conducted by Statistics Canada under contract with the provinces, and cover the period 2002/2003 to 2006/2007.

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Revised estimates of the Income and Expenditure Accounts (IEA) covering the period 2005 to 2008 have been released along with those for the first quarter of 2009. These revised estimates incorporate the most current source data and seasonal patterns.

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Quarterly international merchandise trade statistics are published approximately six weeks after the reference period. Two weeks later, these data are incorporated into the Income and Expenditure Accounts, at which point they are subject to revision. This note outlines the primary sources of the revisions.

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This fact sheet looks at enrolment in and graduation from registered apprenticeship programs, and programs offered at colleges and universities. It also examines differences in the proportions of men and women among students and graduates for these types of education, and within different fields of study. Tables released at the same time as this fact sheet complement the text and summarize data for Canada and the provinces and territories. The data were obtained from the Labour Force Survey, the Postsecondary Student Information System and the Registered Apprenticeship Information System.

Description:

This publication presents recent information on the performance and funding of Federal government expenditures on scientific activities, 2009/2010. The statistics presented are derived from the survey of science and technology (S&T) activities of federal departments and agencies. The data in this release are consistent with expenditures of departments and agencies as reported in the Main Estimates 2009/2010, but do not reflect changes to 2009/2010 spending plans which may result from supplementary estimates or other departmental planning decisions.

Description:

The higher education sector is composed of all universities, colleges of technology and other institutes of postsecondary education, whatever their source of finance or legal status. It also includes all research institutes, experimental stations and clinics operating under the direct control of, or administered by, or associated with higher education establishments.

Description:

The universe for the RDCI consists of all firms known or believed to be involved in the performance or funding of R&D. The frame for this survey has a long history spanning back to the conception of the survey more than 50 years ago. Firms are identified through many sources but most frequently firms are added from the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) T661 files.

Description:

This fact sheet provides summary information about students' transitions from school to the labour market, based on data showing employment status, earnings, and the mobility of students and graduates across Canada. Charts and tables released at the same time as this fact sheet complement the text and summarize data for Canada, the provinces and the territories from the Labour Force Survey, the National Graduates Survey, and the Follow-up of Graduates Survey.

Description:

Canada's economic competitiveness depends on scientific and technological development and also on the people responsible for this development, especially those engaged in R&D. In an earlier Science statistics bulletin, we published the gross domestic expenditures on R&D in Canada (GERD). This issue presents a supplementary measure to the GERD, the number of personnel who perform Canada's R&D activities.

Description:

Energy use is one of the primary contributors to environmental degradation and climate change. This article provides a profile of the Canadian manufacturing industry and the investments made in energy-related processes and technologies in 2006. These investments either reduced the amount of energy used for a process, or lowered the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants produced through the production and use of energy.

Description: Households in Canadian municipalities often have options when choosing the type of water they drink at home and whether they treat it prior to drinking it. The reasons why they might choose to treat their water could be aesthetic or there might have been problems in the past that are influencing their decisions today. Using data from the 2007 Households and the Environment Survey, the author explores some of the factors governing these decisions for households in a selection of Canadian municipalities.

Description:

On behalf of Statistics Canada, I would like to welcome you all, friends and colleagues, to Symposium 2008. This the 24th International Symposium organized by Statistics Canada on survey methodology.

Description:

The context of the discussion is the increasing incidence of international surveys, of which one is the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Project, which began in 2002. The ITC country surveys are longitudinal, and their aim is to evaluate the effects of policy measures being introduced in various countries under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The challenges of organization, data collection and analysis in international surveys are reviewed and illustrated. Analysis is an increasingly important part of the motivation for large scale cross-cultural surveys. The fundamental challenge for analysis is to discern the real response (or lack of response) to policy change, separating it from the effects of data collection mode, differential non-response, external events, time-in-sample, culture, and language. Two problems relevant to statistical analysis are discussed. The first problem is the question of when and how to analyze pooled data from several countries, in order to strengthen conclusions which might be generally valid. While in some cases this seems to be straightforward, there are differing opinions on the extent to which pooling is possible and reasonable. It is suggested that for formal comparisons, random effects models are of conceptual use. The second problem is to find models of measurement across cultures and data collection modes which will enable calibration of continuous, binary and ordinal responses, and produce comparisons from which extraneous effects have been removed. It is noted that hierarchical models provide a natural way of relaxing requirements of model invariance across groups.

Description:

A year ago, Communications and Operations field initiated what is considered as Statistics Canada's first business architecture activity. This concerted effort was focused on collection related activities and processes, and was conducted over a short period during which over sixty STC senior and middle managers were consulted.

We will introduce the discipline of business architecture, an approach based on "business blueprints" to interface between enterprise needs and its enabling solutions. We will describe the specific approach used to conduct Statistics Canada Collection Business Architecture, summarize the key lessons learned from this initiative, and provide an update on where we are and where we are heading.

We will conclude by illustrating how this approach can serve as the genesis and foundation for an overall Statistics Canada business architecture.

Description:

Data Collection Methodology (DCM) enable the collection of good quality data by providing expert advice and assistance on questionnaire design, methods of evaluation and respondent engagement. DCM assist in the development of client skills, undertake research and lead innovation in data collection methods. This is done in a challenging environment of organisational change and limited resources. This paper will cover 'how DCM do business' with clients and the wider methodological community to achieve our goals.

Description:

Prior to 2004, the design and development of collection functions at Statistics New Zealand (Statistics NZ) was done by a centralised team of data collection methodologists. In 2004, an organisational review considered whether the design and development of these functions was being done in the most effective way. A key issue was the rising costs of surveying as the organisation moved from paper-based data collection to electronic data collection. The review saw some collection functions decentralised. However, a smaller centralised team of data collection methodologists was retained to work with subject matter areas across Statistics NZ.

This paper will discuss the strategy used by the smaller centralised team of data collection methodologists to support subject matter areas. There are three key themes to the strategy. First, is the development of best practice standards and a central standards repository. Second, is training and introducing knowledge sharing forums. Third, is providing advice and independent review to subject matter areas which design and develop collection instruments.

Description:

In the mid 1990s the first question testing unit was set-up in the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). The key objective of the unit was to develop and test the questions and questionnaire for the 2001 Census. Since the establishment of this unit the area has been expanded into a Data Collection Methodology (DCM) Centre of Expertise which now sits in the Methodology Directorate. The DCM centre has three branches which support DCM work for social surveys, business surveys, the Census and external organisations.

In the past ten years DCM has achieved a variety of things. For example, introduced survey methodology involvement in the development and testing of business survey question(naire)s; introduced a mix-method approach to the development of questions and questionnaires; developed and implemented standards e.g. for the 2011 census questionnaire & showcards; and developed and delivered DCM training events.

This paper will provide an overview of data collection methodology at the ONS from the perspective of achievements and challenges. It will cover areas such as methods, staff (e.g. recruitment, development and field security), and integration with the survey process.

Description:

This paper addresses the efforts of the U.S. Energy Information Administration to design, test and implement new and substantially redesigned surveys. The need to change EIA's surveys has become increasingly important, as U.S. energy industries have moved from highly regulated to deregulated business. This has substantially affected both their ability and willingness to report data. The paper focuses on how EIA has deployed current tools for designing and testing surveys and the reasons that these methods have not always yielded the desired results. It suggests some new tools and methods that we would like to try to improve the quality of our data.

Description:

Past survey instruments, whether in the form of a paper questionnaire or telephone script, were their own documentation. Based on this, the ESRC Question Bank was created, providing free-access internet publication of questionnaires, enabling researchers to re-use questions, saving them trouble, whilst improving the comparability of their data with that collected by others. Today however, as survey technology and computer programs have become more sophisticated, accurate comprehension of the latest questionnaires seems more difficult, particularly when each survey team uses its own conventions to document complex items in technical reports. This paper seeks to illustrate these problems and suggest preliminary standards of presentation to be used until the process can be automated.

Description: This report contains descriptive analysis of the size, scope and nature of Canada's nonprofit sector in economic terms, statistical tables and information on the concepts, and data sources and methods used to compile the estimates.

Description:

This report provides an overview of the first available data on business fraud in Canada focusing on businesses in the retail, banking and insurance sectors. Data used in this report are from the Survey of Fraud against Businesses, 2007-2008. The Survey of Fraud against Businesses provides national-level data on the prevalence and types of fraud experienced, how businesses respond to incidents of fraud, the monetary and non-monetary costs of fraud and fraud detection and prevention practices.

Description:

The Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) provides an extensive set of data about Aboriginal (Métis, Inuit, and off-reserve First Nations) children under 6 years of age in urban, rural, and northern locations across Canada. The Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) was designed to provide a picture of the early development of Aboriginal children and the social and living conditions in which they are learning and growing.

The survey was developed by Statistics Canada and Aboriginal advisors from across the country and was conducted jointly with Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Description:

This research paper series addresses many topics related to children and youth in Canada, including: cognitive, physical and emotional development; health; behaviour; relationships with others; experiences in the home, at school and at work; family change; and transitions to adulthood. The main data source for the papers in this series is the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth.

Description:

This report offers highlights from the 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating (CSGVP) which was undertaken to better understand how Canadians support individuals and communities on their own or through their involvement with charitable and non-profit organizations. For this survey, thousands of Canadians aged 15 and over were asked how they: gave money and other resources to individuals and to organizations; volunteered time to help others and to enhance their communities; and participated in the practices which help give substance to active citizenship. The results from this survey allow this report to tell a story about who Canada's volunteers and charitable donors are and the ways in which they contribute to our society.

Description:

The bulletin summarizes and highlights new results in the analysis of science, technology and the information society. The articles cover current issues in science and technology activities, advanced technologies, innovation in industry and electronic media. The bulletin is designed to be easily readable by non-experts.

Description: Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis (RSGA) of the Agriculture Division prepared a series of maps and statistics that show the progression of the 2009 Red River valley flood in Manitoba for the spring of 2009. Starting with an image acquired on March 31, the maps were produced from the analysis of Radarsat-2 satellite image data integrated with 2006 Census of Agriculture data and census geography boundary files. From this analysis, the total area of flooded agriculture land and the number of farmers affected were calculated. A comparison is made with the 1997 flood that occurred in the same region.

Description:

To understand the degree to which the supply of workers in health occupations is meeting (and will meet) the health needs of Canadians, Health Canada asked Statistics Canada to study the relationship between education and training and the supply of professionals into health occupations. This series of fact sheets highlights, in summary form, key information relating to the education and training of workers in health and related occupations in Canada.

Description:

This report introduces the Crime Severity Index, a new tool for measuring police-reported crime in Canada that for the first time tracks changes in the severity of crime, not just volume.The report also examines how crime is measured in Canada, as well as recent improvements to statistics on crime that are gathered from the police.

Description:

This is an analytical report on Services to Official-Language Minorities by Health Professionals. This report explores the availability of health professionals who can work in either official language to serve the needs of official language minorities and compares the number of those professionals with the distribution of minority and majority populations in each region of the country.