Undermining our data:
implications for trust in the
census
Lynn Killick, Prof Alistair S Duff, Prof Hazel
Hall & Prof Mark Deakin
@sherpalynn
• Context for the study
• The online tool
• Results
• IMAGE © NATIONAL RECORDS SCOTLAND
IMAGE © OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS
Context for change
• Austerity
• Criticism of the census outputs
• New technologies
Design principles for Census
2021• Designing for online first
• Maximising appropriate use if
administrative data in all areas of
operation & processing
• Making the results available more quickly
than results from the 2011 Census and
completing the production of the full suite
of results more quickly as well
So what?
• Will online first affect participation?
• What do people think about the use of
administrative data?
• What do people think about the
involvement of the private sector?
• Today I will discuss the findings of an
online survey
approach
Online Survey
• Designed and distributed using Novi Survey
• 22 questions plus limited demographic survey
• Anonymous returns
• Promoted via Twitter #PhDchat , LinkedIn and
Facebook using predominantly Scottish
focused groups
approach
Key question areas
• Questions designed to build on prior studies of public perception:– The census as a public sector exercise
– Limits on access to census data
– The distinctions between sectors (public v private)
– The trust (of the public) in confidentiality statements
• In addition:– Accessibility
– Information security
approach
What the people said• Majority viewed completion of the census as a civic duty
• Legal compulsion not a driver, but it does promote participation
• Majority of respondents happy to share personal data with the census
• Fewer respondents content for administrative data to be shared with the census
• Concerns regarding data security but generally trusting of census office – slightly more so than government in general
• Welcoming of online move…..but recognised barriers for others
Yep. But we need to ensure information and digital literacy issues are addressed in order for it to work!
I feel strongly that the information gathered is not used by private for profit orgs. As I do not feel this is in keeping with the role of the census.
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