Coding of parental occupations

ICCS Marker Training

Hamburg, July 2007

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Open-ended questions in StBQ

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Response codes using ISCO classification

• Framework recommended by International Labour Organisation (ILO)

• Currently being updated to ISCO-08• ICCS will have to use ISCO-88• Scores will be recoded into SEI scores

(International Socio-economic Index)• Some modifications of ISCO-88

classification!

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Coding tools

• ISCO manual (ISCO-88) published by ILO in 1990– http://

www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/publ/index.htm

– Also available in French or Spanish (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/isco88/major.htm )

• Countries could also use available national occupational classifications– Codes need to be converted into ISCO-88

afterwards

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Valid reasons for using national classifications

• No translation of ISCO manual into country’s language available

• Centre has coders who are familiar and experienced with national classification

• Using national classification makes data more useful for national analysis

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

ISCO-88 classification

• Structure– Major groups (first digit)– Sub-major groups (second digit)– Minor groups (third digit)– Unit groups (fourth digit)

• Mapping to occupational status– International Socio-economic Index (SEI)– Recoding of unit groups to SEI scores

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Modifications of ISCO-88 - 1

• General Managers’ classified as ‘[Small Enterprise] General Managers’ and ‘Department Managers’ as ‘[Large Enterprise] Department Managers’

• Several categories of armed forces personnel (including similar civilian occupations)

• Distinction between ‘academic teachers’ (2321) and ‘vocational teachers’ (2322)

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Modifications of ISCO-88 - 2

• ‘Traditional Chiefs and Heads of Village’ (1130) was modified to cover all local (as opposed to national) officials.

• Distinguished ‘Oilers and Greasers’ from other mechanics and fitters

• Other codes for very broad categories:(1240) ‘Office managers’, (7510) ‘Non-farm manual foremen and supervisors’, (7520) ‘Skilled workers/artisans’, (7530) ‘Apprentices’, (8400) ‘Semi-skilled workers’

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Modifications of ISCO-88 - 3

• Additional codes:– 9501 for home duties– 9502 for student– 9503 for social beneficiary (e.g.

unemployed, retired, etc.)– 9504 for “I don’t know” and similar

responses– 9505 for vague responses

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

General coding instructions

• Only ISCO-88 codes should be submitted

• Questionnaire responses to be entered into EXCEL spreadsheet (template provided)

• Read-only backup copies should be made– WARNING: Incorrect sorting in EXCEL

can be dangerous!!!

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Coding procedures

• Enter data into EXCEL spreadsheet (with ID and indicator of father and mother)

• Sort occupations by job title• Coding in sorted spreadsheet is more

efficient and reliable than direct coding of hard-copies

• Make sure that ALL relevant columns are sorted (mark columns first!)

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Rules for coding - 1

• Coders should not interpret according to own interpretations but follow instructions

• Coders should only use information provided by the two open-ended responses

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Rules for coding - 2

• Begin by looking at job title (B04a/B06a)– if job title is sufficient for coding select

appropriate ISCO code– if job title is not sufficient, use job

description to find appropriate code

• If more than one job title is provided, select first job for coding unless job description indicates otherwise

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Rules for coding - 3

• Every pair of responses should be coded to the most detailed level possible (4 digits) – If not possible, closest aggregated level should

be selected (e.g. “teacher”)– Aggregated codes should be revised by

supervisor of coding procedures

• National centres should always apply the rules described in ISCO Manual (ILO, 1990)– “Approaches to some specific issues” – “Notes to some particular occupations”

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

National coding instructions - 1

• National coding index should be supplemented with – National ICCS Coding Instructions

• When using national classifications instead of ISCO-88– add specific coding instructions for

modified occupational categories– add any other necessary coding

instructions for ICCS coding

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

National coding instructions - 2

• Try to obtain national coding instructions from – relevant office for statistics in your country– (or) International Labour Organisation

(ILO)

• If no external version can be obtained, instructions will have to elaborated based on ICCS guidelines– Field trial data should then be used as a

basis for coding index for the main study

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Coder training and queries

• Training material– National ICCS coding instructions– Should be obtained from relevant statistical body

in country and adapted for ICCS purposes

• In case of coding problems– First try to resolve at national centre between

coder and supervisor– If it cannot be resolved try to use other national

expert advice– As a last resort, contact ISC (iccs@acer.edu.au)

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

National expertise

• Try to engage expert in national labour statistics

• This person should not be directly involved in coding but give advice to supervisor in especially difficult cases

• The ISC will try to help but national experts will have greater knowledge regarding country-specific coding problems

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Coders and coding - 1

• ISCO coders should be:A. Literate and reasonably intelligent, but not over-eager to

display independence of judgment as this may lead them to find the task demeaning or frustrating.

B. Clerically accurate and careful.

C. Willing and able to follow detailed instructions conscientiously, without attempting to alter or improve upon them, and prepared to raise queries in cases of genuine doubt.

D. Honest and trustworthy and thus not likely to falsify or omit procedures in order to reduce the amount of work to be done per case, or for other reasons.

E. Persistent and willing to work steadily for long periods.

F. Able to work reasonably rapidly and to maintain a steady level of productivity

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Coders and coding - 2

• Screening test may used during recruitment to check some of the criteria recommended by the ILO

• It is recommended to have two coders with one supervisor

• Ensure support from specialist with experience in this area (if available)

• Training should mainly consist of practical instruction under close supervision

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Double-coding

• Higher quality of coding may be achieved by using double-coding– use of two separate spreadsheets– comparison can provide data on reliability

and differences may be reconciled

• When training coders national centres may want to use double-coding of sub-set of responses

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Submission of occupational data

• Ensure that all students have valid ISCO-88 codes

• Check that no sorting errors have occurred– compare with backup copy!!!

• EXCEL spreadsheet with occupational codes should be submitted to IEA DPC together with data files

ICCSMarker Training

HamburgJuly 2007

Questions or comments?