Census Processing
Baku Training Module
Overview
Discuss:
Processing
Strategies
Processing operations
Quality Assurance for processing
Technology Issues for processing
Questions
Census Processing
Strategic
directions need to be established early in the
census cycle.
Single most important decision is deciding upon the
processing system to be used and the technologies that
will be adopted.
These decision needs to be made early enough to enable
sufficient time for testing and implementation.
Data Processing Cycle
Data Processing Cycle
Receipt
and Registration
as enumeration area materials arrive, they are checked
for completeness and "marked in"
close coordination with Field processes
Preliminary
Checking
forms are groomed for later processes, e.g. transcribed if
not suitable for later processes
Coding
and Data Capture
information is captured off the forms and converted into
the classification
Data Processing Cycle
Balancing
computer
records are checked against the forms to
ensure a record has been created for each person and
dwelling enumerated
Validation
checks
the data to ensure it meets minimum agreed
standards
Quality Assurance
and Editing
Editing used to make responses consistent with the
form/sequence rules/classifications
Imputation used to correct non-response
Controlling the workflow
monitoring
and controlling work flows needs close attention
Each
activity depends on the quality and quantity of the
output from previous activities.
Critical
that each activity is meeting production targets to
ensure that the following activity has sufficient work.
Delays
in one activity can lead to costly lost production in
the following activities.
Changes
in procedures to raise production will have to be
carefully considered to ensure that the quality of the data is
not adversely affected.
Management Information Systems
An
essential tool for managers at a processing centre is a
Management Information System
The
to
general requirements of a MIS are as follows :
allow access to information to all managers
to ensure all information is timely and as detailed as
possible
to forecast and report on outcomes for future activity
within the processing centre
ensure information acquired in one Census, can be
utilized for planning in future Censuses
Management Information Systems
What
to collect :
production rates
flow control
staffing
quality assurance
automatic edits
What
to report :
production
automatic edits
quality assurance
feedback to individuals
Quality Assurance
Quality
of Census data is defined as multi-dimensional,
involving elements of :
data
accuracy
budget
timeliness
relevance
Quality Assurance
Quality
Management Framework
Processing of census data is complex - each process
relies on the quality of the preceding process.
To assist in obtaining the highest possible data quality a
framework incorporating the following components can be
established at a processing centre:
quality management system;
quality assurance points for each process;
continuous quality improvement processes;
validation of data.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Continuous
Quality Improvement (CQI) is a core component
of the Total Quality Management philosophy.
CQI
aims to continue to improve the quality of the output of
a project throughout the life of that project.
A continuous
quality improvement approach can be
implemented in the following ways :
using
teams of processing staff to identify and resolve
quality problems;
using quantitative measures of quality, based on
discrepancies in the output of the process; and
giving priority to identifying and addressing the root
causes of these discrepancies
Measuring quality
Quality Assurance
Circle (or Continuous Quality
Improvement)
Measure
Quality
Implement
corrective
action
Identify most
important quality
problem
Identify
root
cause
Validation
The
purpose of validating census data is to identify system
problems and ensure data quality for final output.
Final
check to ensure that the data produced by the
processing system meets the specifications of the editing
program and output requirements.
Validating
the data before it leaves the processing centre
ensures that errors that are significant and considered
important can be corrected in the final file
Validating
as you process ensures the issues found can be
fed into improving the process as you go.
Technology Issues
The
successful introduction of technology into the
processing phase will have a large impact on the overall
success of the census.
The
nature of census processing (ie the capture and
manipulation of large amounts of data) is ideally suited to
computerised technology.
Use
of technology like imaging and Intelligent Character
Recognition (ICR) offers great potential and associated
benefits for census processing.
BUT
be aware of the lead times and technology
infrastructure required for successful implementation of ICR.
Technology Options
Data-
capture methods
key entry
optical mark recognition
digital imaging/intelligent character recognition
electronic lodgment of forms (eg; Internet)
Coding
clerical/computer
automatic
coding
assisted
Technology Issues
Data
Management - issues to consider
networks
and infrastructure
data storage
data backups
data security
Questions?
Working Group Exercise
Working
in groups, answer the following:
What
issues can reduce the quality of the information
processed?
What
can be put in place to reduce the impact of these
issues?