TimeWeb
SITEMAP | HELP | SAMPLE DATA | MIMAS DATA | SEARCH TIMEWEB  
HOME : DIGGING : SOURCING : WORKSHEETS : CENSUS AND SENSITIVITY
Digging
  - Tour
  - Meaning
  - Sourcing
      - Explanation
      - Illustration
      - Worksheets
      - Review
  - Selecting
  - Verifying
Crunching
Buffing
Reference

 
WorksheetCENSUS AND SENSITIVITY

The census is carried out in England and Wales every 10 years. It is designed to count everyone. But often, 'everyone' can't quite be reached.

In 1991, for instance, it is estimated that out of a total population of 52 million, the number of people 'missed' exceeded one million. This was an estimate, because no one could be sure exactly how many people had been omitted.

This problem is not only one of cost - the census costs more than a quarter of a billion pounds to administer - but also the damage that can be caused to central planning. The data obtained through the census is used by the government to plan services like housing, transport, health and education.

Any significant gaps in the data may limit the usefulness of the data to planners. So, for instance, there could be insufficient schools or hospitals in an area, as a result of inaccurate census information.

In the 1991 census, coverage of the population was 98%. The missing 2% were thought to be represented by males in the inner cities, babies under 14 months, elderly women, students and people from ethnic communities.

Questions

Q1. The population total for the census is given as 52 million; but the country's population is always given as 60 million. Why isn't it so here?
(Select one answer)

(a) * Because of people missed from the census.
(b) * Because of rounding-up.
(c) * The UK's population is approximately 60 million, but England and Wales are just a part of the UK.
Q2. In the 1991 census, it was estimated that 2% of the population was not counted. How many people does this work out as ?
(Select one answer)

(a) * 1 040 000
(b) * 10 400 000
(c) * 1 400 000
Q3. Which of these 3 problems do you think would be worsened by the mis-counting of the population in the census?
(Select one answer)

(a) * High crime rate.
(b) * High inflation.
(c) * Large class sizes in primary schools.

So what's being done?

In order to get a more accurate picture of the population of England and Wales, statisticians have devised a coverage survey for the census of 2001.

Aimed at getting accuracy to within 60 000, the survey follows three weeks after census day; 300 000 sample households are interviewed.

From this sample, the number of households missed by the census can be estimated. Crucially, estimates can then be made of the characteristics of these missed households.

The estimates of the previously overlooked households' characteristics, such as marital status and occupation, can then be added to the original data gathered during the census proper.

Q4. Quantify the measure of accuracy aimed for in the 2001 census.
(Select one answer)

(a) * 12 %
(b) * 0.12 %
(c) * 1.2 %
Q5. What percentage of total households does the survey sample represent?
(Select one answer)

(a) * Just over 0.5 %
(b) * Just under 1 %
(c) * Insufficient data here to say.
Q6. Which of the following would be helped by estimating the occupations of people missed out by the census?
(Select one answer)

(a) * Factory construction by car manufacturers.
(b) * Hospital building programme.
(c) * Targeted tax cuts in the Budget.
Click to view your total score for all the above questions that you have attempted.

Outcomes?

The project has been the result of a collaboration between government statisticians and academics.

  • It will enable a more accurate estimate to be made of the undercount across the whole census.
  • It will produce one number that will become the national population estimate.
  • It should improve the foundation of decisions taken centrally.

There will always be some element of undercounting in a census of this size, but it is hoped that this will be reduced to a minimum as a result of this follow-up survey.

Back to worksheets

© 2001 - 2008 TIMEWEB