1246.0 - Education Variables, 2002
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/12/2002
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12. This section provides an overview of classification and coding for the variable Main Field of Highest Educational Attainment. For further details of the classification, code structure and coding procedures, see the ASCED.
THE STANDARD CLASSIFICATION AND CODE STRUCTURE 15. As mentioned above, the ASCED is used when collecting, aggregating and disseminating data relating to the variable 'Main field of highest educational attainment'. The term Field of Education is used in the ASCED to describe the subject matter included in an educational activity; Fields of Education are related to each other through the number of subjects they have in common, through the broad purposes for which the study is undertaken, and through the theoretical knowledge which underpins the subject matter. They are described in terms of the theoretical content of the particular Field of Education, and by a representation of the types of subjects or courses which impart that theoretical content. 16. The classification has a three-level hierarchical structure. The most detailed level of the classification consists of 356 base or third-level units which are Fields of Education (as defined above) called Detailed fields. The detailed-level categories of the classification are aggregated to form the second-level categories of the classification which comprise 71 Narrow Fields of Education. These in turn are aggregated to the 12 Broad Fields of Education. 17. The 12 Broad Fields of Education in ASCED are: 1 Natural and Physical Sciences 2 Information Technology 3 Engineering and Related Technologies 4 Architecture and Building 5 Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies 6 Health 7 Education 8 Management and Commerce 9 Society and Culture 10 Creative Arts 11 Food, Hospitality and Personal Services 12 Mixed Field Programmes 18. Two, four and six-digit codes are assigned to the first, second and third-level units of the classification respectively. The first two digits identify the Broad Field in which each Narrow and Detailed Field is contained. The first four digits taken together identify the Narrow Field in which each Detailed Field is contained. The six-digit codes represent the Detailed Fields. 19. The following examples illustrate the coding scheme:
Residual categories and codes 21. Within most Narrow Fields a six-digit code, consisting of the four digits of the Narrow Field followed by the digits '99', is reserved as a residual or the 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) category at the Detailed Field level. Exceptions are made for Narrow Fields where the Detailed Fields contained are exhaustive. 22. In most Broad Fields, codes are also reserved for residual categories at the Narrow Field level. These codes consist of the Broad Field code followed by '99'. Exceptions are made for Broad Fields where the Narrow Fields contained are exhaustive. Supplementary codes 23. The supplementary codes are used to process inadequately described responses in statistical collections. The codes are of two types:
24. Codes ending in two or four zeros are described as 'not further defined' (n.f.d.) codes and are used to code responses which cannot be coded to the Detailed Fields of the classification but can be coded to a higher level of the classification structure. 25. The code 000001 is used to process responses which do not provide enough information to be coded to a particular Field of Education (inadequately described responses). The code 000000 is used when there is no response to Field of Education. The code 000002 is used when the variable is not applicable. SCOPE OF THE CLASSIFICATION 26. The ASCED applies to all learning experiences which form part of a course leading to a qualification, or which include some form of assessment. It can also classify some courses, and components thereof, which do not lead to a qualification. APPLICATION OF THE CLASSIFICATION TO OTHER VARIABLES 27. In addition to 'Main field of highest educational attainment', the ASCED Field of Education Classification can be used to classify variables such as 'Main field of highest non-school qualification'. CODING PROCEDURES 28. Each field of education response is matched with an entry in the ASCED Field of Education coding index to determine the correct code. The coding index contains a comprehensive list of the most probable responses to questions relating to field of education. The coding index is not contained in ASCED (cat no. 1272.0); the ASCED CD-ROM (cat. no. 1272.0.30.002) provides a windows-based coding facility which uses the coding index to assign ASCED Field of Education codes. For further information on coding procedures contact the Population Statistics Standards Section, Australian Bureau of Statistics on phone (02) 6252 5736, fax (02) 6252 5281, or e-mail labour.classifications@abs.gov.au. 29. Where the level of highest educational attainment is primary or secondary school education (i.e. if the code for the standard variable 'Level of highest educational attainment' is greater than or equal to 600 or is 067, then the code for 'Main Field of Highest Educational Attainment' is 120101 General Primary and Secondary Education Programmes.
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