Question Development
17 February 2006
Scotland has a continuously changing population and Census questions must reflect these changes. We are running a long term programme of consultation and community liaison which should inform us of demands for new questions. Any potential new question must first meet certain criteria and be thoroughly tested before it is added to a Census form.
Developing Census Questions
Question Testing
New questions must be thoroughly tested before they can be deemed suitable for a Census. We are working with the Office of National Statistics and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in the United Kingdom Census Questionnaire Design Working Group and we are pursuing our own complimentary program of question development in Scotland. We use a variety of qualitative and quantitative studies and involve a wide range of community stakeholders in question development.
In September 2005 we conducted a small scale postal survey to evaluate a draft questionnaire design for the 2006 Census Test. This survey included an evaluation of a new question on sexual orientation which arose during the early stages of consultation on question content for 2011. A report called
Sexual Orientation in the Census summarises the findings of this survey.
Focus Groups
We are conducting Focus groups throughout Scotland to determine the quality and acceptability of new questions. So far we have met with groups arranged by:
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Age Concern Scotland;
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Fife Arabic Society;
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Crofters Commission; and
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Y sort it.
A report on these meetings will be published in due course.
