1. Discussant: Werner Haug, Swiss Federal Statistical Office
Seminar on “Improved data reporting” Session II: Using the internet for population censuses and surveys
Discussant: Werner Haug, Swiss Federal Statistical Office
Fifty-third plenary session, Conference of European Statisticians, June 2005

2. Three invited papers by Statistics Canada
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Three invited papers by
Statistics Canada
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Statistics New Zealand
present experiences and strategies, based on field tests, dress rehearsals and systems in place or planned for e-censuses in 2006

3. Shared conviction: e-census is a „must“
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Shared conviction: e-census is a „must“
Part of the e-government strategy for the public service
“Right” of the citizen to communicate with the state via the internet
High levels of connectivity in the respective countries (45-65%), increasingly high speed
Transactions via the internet are becoming routine (banking, tax forms, business transactions)
Public expectation, official statistics can’t stay behind

4. Common goals for online solutions
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Common goals for online solutions
Integrate new communication technologies in official statistics
Propose more flexible, user friendly and safe ways to deliver data
Sustain participation rates and reduce non-response among certain target groups
Improve data quality through online checks and interactivity
Reduce costs of data collection, processing and editing

5. Different census methods
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Different census methods
Canada:
Delivery of questionnaires through the postal system (based on mailing lists and addresses for dwellings) as well as enumerators; return of data by mail, via internet or CATI
Australia and New Zealand:
Delivery of questionnaires by enumerators; return via enumerators, by mail or via internet

6. Challenges and solutions: Field work I
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: Field work I
Distribution of unique identifiers and internet access codes
Canada:
e-census number printed on front of the paper questionnaire
Australia/New Zealand:
Separate envelope with unique e-census number in addition to the paper forms (to be used in combination with the number on the census form and the household number in the case of New Zealand)

7. Challenges and solutions: Field work II
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: Field work II
Follow up of response and non response in the field
Canada:
Central master control system for all returns (based on unique identifiers) and follow up non-response lists for returns by mail, CATI and enumerators
Australia/New Zealand:
Call centre and SMS messaging to inform census collectors if respondents have mailed back or returned by e-census

8. Challenges and solutions: User friendliness
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: User friendliness
Offer choice and convenience according to web standards
Paper form has to be adapted to the logic of the web
Possibility to interrupt and resume sessions (Canada)
Possibility to answer in different modes for individual household members (Canada)
No downloads on the computer (Canada)
Sufficient system availability and loading capacity during the peak period around census day (Canada: 15’000, New Zealand 31’000 concurrent users expected)

9. Challenges and solutions: Quality control and quality gain
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: Quality control and quality gain
Maintain/Improve coverage, quality of response and comparability
Same basic codes and integrated processing systems for the different modes of data collection
Compulsory entries and online edits avoid partial form completion, reduce item non-response, coding and eliminate conflicting responses
Automated tracking and follow up systems to reduce non-response and eliminate duplicates

10. Challenges and solutions: Security and data protection
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: Security and data protection
Safe transactions and respect of data confidentiality
Use of government online services and “secure channels” (Canada)
Bidirectional encryption (Canada)
No footprints on the computer (Canada)
Limited use (census only) digital certificates
Isolation of networks and data centre facilities
etc.

11. Challenges and solutions: Communication strategy
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Challenges and solutions: Communication strategy
Promote the online option and inform the target population
Special communication strategy to push the online option and achieve ambitious targets (20% of households for Canada and 15-20% for New Zealand)
Special target populations: young adults, highly skilled, persons with disabilities, minority populations etc. (Australia)
Face lack of public trust in internet security (New Zealand: only 30% consider internet safe, more positive in Canada)
Risk management strategy (viruses, worms, availability of servers)

12. Online surveys and long term strategic considerations
CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Online surveys and long term strategic considerations
Guarantee efficiency and independence of official statistics
Development and support of online applications for censuses is cost intensive. Potential savings are long term (Canada)
Scenarios about the technological trends of the future are subjective and risky (Canada)
Online applications involve to a large extent services of the private sector. Where are the limits, how can public trust and independence of NSO‘s be safeguarded?

13. CES seminar on “Improved data reporting”
Questions
Are online surveys the future collection mode for population censuses? Technical problems solved? More research?
Which percentage of online respondents can be expected?
Are efficient online surveys possible in the absence of unique identifiers and central master control systems?
Do online solutions affect public trust in official statistics?
Where is the break-even point between investments and savings?
Which competences should NSO’s develop and keep in house and what can be outsourced?
What about online solutions for sample surveys?