THEMATIC FORMS
Demand for additional topics (and the expansion of existing topics) on the Census form remains high, and decisions regarding which topics to include each cycle require careful consideration and extensive testing. For 2006, the Census forms were expanded by two pages to incorporate new topics on need for assistance and unpaid work. User demand for more questions in the 2011 Census is expected.
Increasing respondent burden by continuing to ask additional questions of the population for each Census has the potential to compromise the overall quality of Census data. Furthermore, an increase in the size of the current Census form, to cater for additional topics, will be costly and can only be countenanced if extra funding is forthcoming. To address these issues, the ABS will evaluate alternative options to satisfy user demand for additional questions, while balancing respondent burden and maintaining data quality.
One option being considered for the 2011 Census is the introduction of 'thematic forms'. Thematic forms and topic sampling are a means of adding extra questions to the form without increasing its overall size, in order to meet growing user demands for small area data without increasing the total burden on the Australian public who provide the data.
With this option Census topics would be divided into two groups: core and non-core topics. Questions relating to core topics would be included on all Census forms. Non-core topics would be grouped into broad social or economic themes and a selected group of questions relating to non-core topics will appear on each Census form. As a result, a sample of responses for non-core topics would be gathered. During processing of the Census, results from this sample will be expanded to make it representative of the entire Australian population.
At the time of the Census, Census forms would be distributed in a manner that ensures even coverage of the different thematic forms across households.
The ABS is currently considering the use of thematic forms and the issues associated with their implementation. A decision whether to pursue this option will be made in 2008 as part of the user consultation process.
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