Census Quality Survey

Key facts

Survey coverage: England & Wales
Set Sample size: 4,600
Response Rate: 60%

Why is the survey carried out?

The Census Quality Survey (CQS) is being carried out for Census Division of ONS. It has two main purposes:

1. to look at the possible error rate on the Census forms, i.e. how often the true answer, as determined by interviewers probing out information in a one-to-one interview, differs from the Census answer. Differences may arise because questions were misinterpreted or answered by proxy, or because of the limitations of a self-completion form; and
2. a further opportunity to check any problems with the questions, layout or routing of the Census form before it is finally signed off.

How is the survey done?

The survey involves interviewers, acting as Census Enumerators, delivering Census Test forms to a random sample of 4,600 addresses.

Interviewers were asked to identify all households at a sampled address and ensure each received a Census form. The addresses selected were clustered in 80 part postal sectors.

Once the forms had been delivered, respondents were asked to fill them in and return them to ONS. One reminder letter was sent out. It is expected that 60% of forms will be returned and the returned forms will be double keyed by Labour Force Survey interviewers.

Once the questionnaire has been keyed, interviewers are sent back into the field to ask respondents about the answers they gave and to verify that the answers given were indeed the "true" or accurate ones. In order to do this, the interviewers are given a computer assisted interviewing questionnaire with the answers given on the form, preloaded onto their laptops.

The aim is to interview 80% of households that returned a form.

For more information about SSD or the surveys we carry out contact:
SSD Project Support Branch Tel: +44 (0)20 7533 5500 or e-mail: ssdpsb@ons.gov.uk

This page last revised: Monday, 29 October 2001