Paper SPSCC/06/02 - LONG TERM STRATEGY FOR POPULATION SURVEYS IN SCOTLAND
Initial thoughts on core socio economic questions to be included in large scale surveys
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1. Members are asked to consider the questions included in the first proposals of a socio-economic core for inclusion in all large scale surveys. Discussion on the amount of time that should be set aside for core-socio economic questions is also welcome.
2. There are a range of core questions (e.g. age, sex, tenure, access to cars, employment) which are included across a number of surveys. These are included in some instances to provide estimates of levels and proportions for the questions in their own right, but in other instances are used to answer policy questions about sub-groups of the population.
3. Over time, changes to core questions (intended to save time) and removal of questions can have a serious impact on the quality and usability of surveys to answer policy questions about sub-groups of the population and trends over time. There are also impacts on the ability of users to compare Scottish results with results from other UK and international surveys.
4. Dependent on the future design of surveys, there is scope to bring together and combine responses from the large scale surveys. This would provide more reliable estimates for existing geography and estimates for smaller geographic areas for which information on some aspects of socio-economic change is not available between census - for example parliamentary constituencies, or deprived areas within local authorities.
5. Some of the benefits of having a harmonised core socio-economic questions asked on all large scale survey have been set out above, but the space on the survey set aside for these questions has to be balanced with the policy requirements.
6. The OCS have set out a first cut of what might be included in a harmonised socio-economic core taking account of current content on the large scale surveys (especially the Scottish Household Survey), the recent ONS Integrated Harmonised Survey and GROS 2011 Census consultations.
7. A thorough review of whether we have agreed harmonised questions with ONS for the proposed core questions is still to be carried out. There are some topics (including ethnicity and disability) which are currently under review. There may be growing demand for a question on sexual orientation.
8. Further work is required to develop the estimates of the length of time it will take to ask the core questions. In addition, consultation with a range of users would be required before finalising the core.
Robert Williams & Gayle Johnston / OCS / January 2006
Annex - Initial thoughts on core socio economic questions to be included in large scale surveys
Estimated Total time (sum of individual average durations) - 10 minutes 49 seconds; (individual questions asked of all household members)
Question Topic | Household/Individual | Estimated average duration (seconds) | Comments |
|---|
A - People and Places | | 4min 30sec | |
Gender | Individual | 25 | Equality strand. Important to include in respect of the forthcoming Gender Duty |
Age & Date of birth | Individual | 90 | Equality strand. Date of birth important for quality assurance of survey. |
Marital Status | Individual | 25 | |
Living Arrangements e.g. living with a partner
Family units (within household) e.g. couple with dependant children | Individual | 52 | Not clear whether relationship grid is required to allow detailed household classifications to be identified. For example, benefit units. If not then estimated average duration would reduce. |
Usual place of residence | Individual | 37 | To identify desired population base |
Residence one year ago | Individual | 40 | |
B - Identity | | 1min 42sec | |
Ethnic group | Individual | 27 | Equality strand. these questions are based on the proposed ethnicity and national identity questions to be tested in the April 2006 Census Test. There may be changes to the proposals following analysis of test responses and further consultation with ONS regarding harmonisation issues. The classification to be used in the 2011 Census will be confirmed in 2009. |
National Identity | Individual | 30 | Required to derive Ethnicity classification |
Religion | Individual | 45 | Equality strand |
C - Health | | 39sec | There is also a forthcoming Disability Duty. The Disability Rights Commission are currently consulting on a definition, which we may wish to adopt. Currently there is not a harmonised question - the SHS asks two questions, one on disability and one on long term illness, followed by a question on type of illness whilst the Census asks one question combining disability and long term-illness. |
Limiting long-term illness | Individual | 12 | Equality strand. Used to derive disability free life expectancy |
General health | Individual | 6 | Used to derive healthy life expectancy |
Provision of unpaid care | Individual | 12 | Question in SHS where time estimate from include: which households members require care, who provides care, weekly hours of car provided by household/non household members |
Prevalence of smoking | Individual | 9 | From HG detailed health section of SHS |
D - Employment | | 2min 25sec | |
Employment status (ILO) | Individual | | Time estimate relates to all questions concerning employment in the SHS. All the topics listed in the employment section are included in the SHS questionnaire |
Full-time or part-time employment | Individual | | |
Industry of employment | Individual | | |
Occupational group | Individual | | |
Length of time since last did paid work | Individual | | |
Length of time with current employer | Individual | | |
Whether looking for paid work | Individual | | |
Attendance on government training schemes | Individual | | |
Place of work (summary details) | Individual | | |
Whether supervisor | Individual | | (to derive NS-SEC) |
Number of employees at work place | Individual | | (to derive NS-SEC) |
E - Housing | | 24sec | |
Tenure | Household | 14 | |
Accommodation type and size | Household | 10 | |
F - Education | Individual | 32sec | |
Educational status | Individual | 16 | |
Highest qualification level | Individual | 16 | Question in SHS asks for all educational qualifications held |
G - Other | | 37sec | |
Banded Household income | Household | 20 | Simple show card |
Access to Transport (car or van) | Individual | 17 | |