Explanatory script
Why is the question asked?
Questions on Country of Births are asked because the data obtained provide information about the cultural background of Australia's population.
This explanatory script outlines personal interview and self-enumeration procedures for recording country of birth data from the detailed, short and minimum question modules.
The procedures apply to the variables Country of Birth of Person, Country of Birth of Father, and Country of Birth of Mother.
Detailed question module
Interview-based questionnaires
For interview-based questionnaires, the interviewer selects the relevant option if it is available. If the respondent identifies a country not in the option list, the interviewer enters/writes the response in the 'Other - Please specify' category.
Self-enumerated questionnaires
For self-enumerated questionnaires, the respondent selects the relevant country from the option list if it is available. If the country of birth is not in the option list, the respondent enters/writes the country in the 'Other - Please specify' category.
Short question module
Interview-based questionnaires
For interview-based questionnaires, the interviewer selects the 'Australia' option if the respondent identifies Australia as the country of birth. If the respondent identifies a country other than Australia as the country of birth, the interviewer enters/writes the response in the 'Other - Please specify' category.
Self-enumerated questionnaires
For self-enumerated questionnaires, the respondent marks the 'Australia' option if the person was born in Australia. If the identified country is not Australia, the respondent enters/writes the country of birth in the 'Other - Please specify' category.
Minimum question module
Interview-based questionnaires
For interview-based questionnaires, the interviewer selects the 'Australia' option if the respondent identifies Australia as the country of birth. If the respondent identifies a country other than Australia as the country of birth, the interviewer selects the 'Other country' option.
Self-enumerated questionnaires
For self-enumerated questionnaires, the respondent selects the 'Australia' option if the person was born in Australia. If the identified country is not Australia, the respondent selects the 'Other country' option.
Country of birth of father or mother
If the respondent is adopted or has step or foster parents or other guardians, the respondent should provide the country of birth for their birth parents, if known. If a birth parent's country of birth is not known, the respondent should leave response fields blank.