SOCIOLOGY 272

Library Instruction Class: Locating and Using Census Data

November 2010

Learning Objectives

• Background on Censuses in Canada• Introduction to

o Locating Census Data using E-STATo Locating Census Data using Topic-Based

Tabulationso Using CANSIMoMapping a Census characteristic in E-STAT

What is E-Stat?

• Statistics Canada product• Provides access to socio-economic data about

Canada (from CANSIM)• Free, online, interactive tool• Only available to educational institutions• Provides access to Census data: population &

agricultural censuses

Why Use E-Stat?

• Some of the reasons why you might use E-Stat …

• To make investment decisions• To evaluate social conditions• To conduct feasibility studies• To conduct market analyses• To forecast economic conditions• To plan programs or services• To profile demographics

What is CANSIM?• Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management System• Statistics Canada product• Database of social and economic data about Canada and Canadian life• Different tiers of service:

– Fee-based commercial service– Institutional subscription to universities/colleges via E-stat

• CANSIM/E-stat data is updated annually in the summer• Contains over 42 million time series’

Topics Covered by CANSIM

Census

• What is it?• Why is it conducted?• How often is it done?• What kinds of questions are asked?• How is it administered?• Why do Sociologists use Census data?

What is a Census?

An official count of the citizens who live in a particular country. It is used to get an accurate picture of a country’s size and the characteristics of the people who live there.

What is the Purpose of the Census in Canada?

– To adjust federal electoral districts (for seats in Parliament)– To help determine federal transfer payments– To help determine government programs and services, including

health-care, education, transportation– To assist in social and economic research

About the Census

• 1871-1981 - census was conducted every ten years• 1981- today - census conducted every five years

• Did you know?

– The census is always conducted on the second Tuesday in May. – Why? Need to balance between unfavourable weather, poor road conditions, accurate

crop acreage, summer holidays, people moving in June

Census Questionnaires

Census of Population: Two questionnaires

1. Everyone answers 10 questions in 2011:http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-08-21/html/order-decret-eng.html

2. National Voluntary Household Survey (distributed to 4.5 million households)http://www.statcan.gc.ca/survey-enquete/household-menages/5178-eng.htm

– Long-form Census Questionnaire Controversy: On June 26, 2010, Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, announced that the voluntary National Household Survey (NHS) would

replace the mandatory long-form census questionnaire in Canada. The government's decision has fueled a heated debate between those who view the previously mandatory long-form questionnaire as an invasion of privacy, and those who see it as an important source of information essential to public policy, research and business

Census Questions ChangeThe census both reflects AND helps to shape the “population” and our

image of it …

A few examples:

1. Head of householdUntil 1976 “head of household was defined as the husband, but in 1981 it was dropped entirely

2. “Infirmities”

Until 1911, respondents were asked to disclose whether members of their household were bind, “deaf and dumb”, insane or “simple minded”

3. Common law relationships (since 1991)4. Housework (since 1996)5. Same sex common law couples (since 2001)

Sample Question from 2006 Census

33. Last week, how many hours did this person spend doing the following activities:

(a) doing unpaid housework, yard work or home maintenance for members of this household, or others?

Some examples include: preparing meals, washing the car, doing laundry, cutting the grass, shopping, household planning, etc. o None o Less than 5 hours o 5 to 14 hours o 15 to 29 hours o 30 to 59 hours o 60 hours or more

Locating Census Data Using E-STAT

1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

2. Click on “E-STAT” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

3. Click on “Search Censuses in E-STAT”

4. Select “2006 Census” and click “Go”

5. Select “2006 Census of Population (Provinces, Census Divisions, Municipalities)” and click “Go”

6. Select “2006 Cumulative Profile” and click “Go”

7. Select “2006 – Canada, Provinces and Territories (1)” as the Geographic Region

8. Click on “View checklist” to select multiple characteristics

9. Scroll down to locate the variables that you need

10. Check off the variables that you want

11. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Return to selection page”

12. Scroll down and click on “Reduce or sort geo list”

13. Select “Canada” to limit your geographic area and then scroll down

14. Select “HTML Table (Geography=Columns)” and then click “Go”

15. Review results and then change the display to be percentages instead of actual data

16. The information is now displayed as percentage (%)

17. Scroll down and change your screen output to a Pie Chart

18. Data displayed as a pie chart

Scroll down and click on “Reduce/Sort Geo List”

NOTE: You can also search for Census Data that is only about specific areas, such as Kamloops, using “Census Subdivisions” in your “Geographic Region” section

Select “Kamloops (B.C.) [CY]” as the Geographic area

Locating Census Data Using Topic-Based Tabulations

1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

2. Click on “Statistics Canada” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

3. Click on “Data, products and services” in the Census box

4. Click on “Data products” in the left-hand navigation bar under 2006 Census

5. Click on “Topic-based tabulations”

6. Click on “variable categories (A to Z list)” if the topic you want is not on the first page

7. Use the alphabetized list to locate the topic and then click on the topic you want

8. Click on “Free” next to the table that you want

9. Use the drop-down boxes to select the variables

10. To calculate the %, you must do the math!

To calculate the % of males in the 15-24 age group that do 15-29 hours of unpaid housework, use the circled numbers.

Calculation: 100705/2145570*100 = 4.7%

Using CANSIM

1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

2. Click on “E-STAT” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

3. Click on “Search CANSIM in E-STAT”

4. Type “absence” in search box to locate tables. Then click on the “Search” button.

5. Locate the appropriate table title and click on the table number (279-0039)

6. Select sex (Females) and Union coverage (Select all)

7. Select absence rates (total days lost...) and five year period

8. Click on “Retrieve as a Table”

8. Select “vertical bar chart” as output format and then click on “Retrieve now”

Vertical Bar chart

Mapping a Census Characteristic in

E-STAT

1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

2. Click on “E-STAT” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

3. Click on “Search Censuses in E-STAT”

4. Select “2006 Census" and click “Go”

5. Select “2006 Census of Population (48 Census Metropolitan Areas/Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts)”

6. Select “2006 Cumulative Profile” and click “Go”

7. Select “Kamloops (27 areas) and “Areas sorted by Name”

8. Click on “View checklist” to select the characteristic

9. Select ONE variable (“Males 15 years and over – Hours spent doing housework”)

10. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Return to selection page”

10. Scroll down and select “Map” as output format and then click on “Retrieve now”

Map of Kamloops Census Tracts

Census Geography

• Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) & Census Agglomeration (CA)

Area consisting of one or more neighbouring municipalities situated around a major urban core. A census metropolitan area must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core. A census agglomeration must have an urban core population of at least 10,000.

Statistics Canada’s Illustrated Glossary for Census Geographyhttp://geodepot.statcan.ca/2006/180506051805140305/03150707/0914040524_05-eng.jsp

Reference Maps (Census / Geography / Reference Maps)

Census Geography

• Census Subdivision

Area that is a municipality or an area that is deemed to be equivalent to a municipality for statistical reporting purposes (e.g., as an Indian reserve or an unorganized territory). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada.

• Census Tract

Area that is small and relatively stable. Census tracts usually have a population of 2,500 to 8,000. They are located in large urban centres that must have an urban core population of 50,000 or more.

How to Cite Statistics Canada Products

Statistics Canada’s Guide: How to cite Statistics Canada products• http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-591-x/2006001/4113853-eng.htm• http://www.statcan.gc.ca.ezproxy.tru.ca/pub/12-591-x/2009001/02-step-etape/ex/ex-estat-eng.htm

CANSIM Table Example• Statistics Canada. No date. Table 477-0013 University enrolments, by registration status, program level, Classification of

Instructional Programs, Primary Grouping (CIP_PG) and sex, annual (number), Monthly (table). CANSIM (database). Using E-STAT (distributor). Last updated March 2010. http://tinyurl.com/2893za3 (accessed November 2, 2010).

CENSUS Table Example• Statistics Canada. No date. 2006 Census of Population (48 Census Metropolitan Areas/Census Agglomerations and Census

Tracts) (table). 2006 Census of Canada (2006 Cumulative Profile, Kamloops (27 Census tracts) (database). Using E-STAT (distributor). Last updated 2006. http://tinyurl.com/2ezkp6x(accessed November 2, 2010).

SFU Library Guide to Citing Statistics: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/citing-statistics

Thank You

If you have any questions about locating and using census data, please contact the TRU Library.