Development of Strategies
for Census Data
Dissemination
United Nations Statistics Division
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
“A census is not complete
until the information
collected is made available to
potential users in a form
suited to their needs”
(UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and
Housing Censuses, Revision 2, para. 1.206)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Developing Dissemination Strategy: Key Elements
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Users identification
Data uses/needs
Technologies
Dissemination media
Products and services
Dissemination policy
Quality assurance
Meta-data
Confidentiality/privacy measures
Budget and human resources
Users consultation
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Users identification
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Central government
Local government authorities
Research community
Business and industry sector
General public
Communication media
International and multinational organizations
Public or private service providers
Market researchers
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Data Uses/Needs
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for policymaking, planning and administrative purposes
as (an essential) part of the statistical infrastructure
for research purposes
for business, industry and labor
for electoral boundary delimitation
as a sampling frame for surveys
for development of benchmark housing statistics
for the formulation of housing policy and programs
for the assessment of the quality of housing
in relationship with other statistical activities
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Technologies
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GIS
Internet Dissemination
Data bases
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Dissemination Media
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Paper publications
Digital media
Online dissemination
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Products and Services
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Provisional results
Tabulations
Thematic statistical or analytical reports
Procedural, evaluation and other reports
Census mapping
Interactive digital outputs
General interest products and special audience reports
Services – customized products, "on request" services
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Tabulations
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Basic/essential tabulations
Recommended tabulations
Additional tabulations
(UN Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing
Censuses, Revision 2)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
What is Unique about Census Products?
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Estimates for small areas and small population groups >
effective decision making (identified target population)
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Infrastructure statistics > effective sampling for surveys
(identified strata), without crossing lines vis a vis response
burden and budget
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But usually infrequent (once a decade)
Census Dissemination Strategy has to address first those needs
answered only by census data
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Dissemination Policy
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Marketing
Pricing
External distributors
Confidentiality and privacy
Accessibility
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Quality Assurance Attributes
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Relevance
Completeness
Accuracy
Comparability
Coherence
Timeliness
Punctuality
Clarity
Accessibility
Metadata
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Quality Assurance Process Should Show
a)
Methodological soundness: adherence to professional methods
and (internationally) agreed standards
b)
Efficiency: degree to which statistics are compiled in such a
way that the cost and the respondent burden are minimized
relative to output
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Quality Assurance Challenges
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Census dissemination can easily be overlooked in the chain of
providing a quality outcome for the census as management
attention is diverted to the costly and risky enumeration and
processing operations
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Dissemination systems and processes need to be available,
documented and tested prior to the release of data from the
processing phase
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Metadata
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Sources of the data
Definitions
Methods
Para-data (collection-process description)
International comparability
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Confidentiality/Privacy Measures
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Direct identification
Indirect identification
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Budget and Human Resources
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Proper budget allocation since the start of the project
Human resources recruitment and maintenance until the end of
the census project
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
How to Determine Users’ Needs
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Mandatory products
Uses in previous census
Uses in relevant surveys and expressed needs
International recommendations
Surveys, discussion groups, and other operations to elicit
needs of known users and of potential users before (and after)
the census
NSO insights and leading role
Future needs…
This is to create a reservoir of needs
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Consultation with Users
 Three issues to be addressed:
 Data to be collected according to accepted
needs, while keeping the respondents’ rights
in mind
 Data to be released to ensure
confidentiality and yet, relevance
 Dissemination tools to ensure
accessibility, independence in use, clarity
and processing ability
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Consultation with Users
Data to be collected
Limitations
Legal
Obligations
International
Recommendations
Scope and Costs of
Direct Data Collection
Consultation
Span
Consistency with
Official Statistics
Privacy &
Response Burden
Alternatives for Direct Data Collection
(administrative sources)
Public vs. Private
Users
Infrastructure vs.
Other Statistics
Multiple vs. Single
Potential Users
Many vs. Few Uses
Influenced by the reservoir of needs
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Consultation with Users
Data to be Released
Limitations
Legal
Obligations
International
Recommendations
Confidentiality & Individual Privacy
Data Quality
Generic vs. Tailor-made Products
Consultation
Span
Aggregates vs. Micro-data
Single census vs. Several censuses data
(Comparisons over-time, linked records)
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Consultation with Users
Tools
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Dissemination Tools come to serve four main purposes:
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Accessibility to all
Independence in use
Clarity of the data
Processing ability for further research
-Therefore-
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Under the limitations of Budget, Human Resources and
Technology, users are to be consulted and demonstrated
needs, with regard to dissemination tools, are to be
answered
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
Developing Dissemination Strategy
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Users’ needs determine the Target
Data (and metadata), budget and human resources – are the
Input
Technology and methodology – are enabling factors
Products and services – are the Output
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
“Tips” Based on Previous Experience
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Dissemination strategy needs to be developed during the
planning stage of the census
Budget and human resources need to be determined (and
protected) since the beginning of the census project
The supply of census products and services goes far beyond
the first couple of years after the census
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
“A census is not complete
until the information
collected is made available to
potential users in a form
suited to their needs”
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis for Arabic Speaking
Countries, Amman, Jordan, 16-19 May 2011