HND Social Science

Integrative Assessment

D81V 34: Project

A Short Note on the 2001 Census

The Census is one of the most valuable sources of data for anyone carrying out social research in this short note we will look at some of the key features of the most recent 2001 census.

The 2001 census was carried out 200 years after the first and many of the original purposes are still relevant. The data collected inform social policy decisions including the distribution of funds to local government and decisions on where to set electoral boundaries.

The census collects descriptive data about the whole population which means it provides social researchers with benchmark figures, which enable them to design representative surveys. The data are not only analysed by policy makers Tables containing census data are available for small areas, which means we can find out about our own localities. A sample of complete records from the census, anonymised to ensure confidentiality, is made available so that students and researchers can go beyond the tables and undertake more extensive analyses.

The UK is one of a majority of countries that undertake a Census every ten years. In the UK Census years are those that end with the number 1 e.g 1981,91 ,2001.

In a census year data is collected on every individual in the population on a particular day. The work is carried out by three national statistics agencies; The Office for National Statistics( in England and Wales); The General Register Office of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

The actual data collection on census data is just the obvious bit of a huge effort involved in gathering information from the whole population, including designing and testing the questionnaire, inputting and checking the data, and making the resulting data available.

April the 29^th 2001was Census day, In April one enumerator, part of an army of nearly seventy thousand enumerators, managers and other staff, visited every household and communal establishment, and delivered a census form . By law , a member of the household or (communal establishment, such as a residential home or hospital) was obliged to complete the form, which included questions on who lived in the household, their age, sex, ethnicity, occupation, how they get to work,(if applicable), their educational qualifications and housing.

For the first time ever a question on religion was included as were questions on general state of health over the last year and whether each individual was a carer. New questions ( and the format of the questionnaire) were piloted extensively before the census. During the testing period it was decided not to include a question about income, despite policy and research interest in the information, as it was considered too intrusive.

Respondents were asked to complete the form on Census day and to return the questionnaire by post as soon as possible following that date. Posting the forms back was a new approach; previously enumerators had collected the forms. Although there were some glitches in the delivery of the completed forms. The Office of National Statistics see the new collection method as successful. 90% of forms were returned by post, enumerators followed up unreturned forms resulting in an overall return of 95% of forms delivered. The missing 5% were believed to be mainly those delivered to empty properties. Overall, the Office of National Statistics believes that the response is higher than in 1991 when an estimated 1 million people were ‘missing’ from the census.

So it makes sense to use this resource.