1285.0 - Demographic Variables, 1999  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/08/1999   
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Contents >> Sex >> Collection methods

Standard question module

17. For the collection of data on sex the ABS standard questionnaire module is a tick box question as shown below. Due to tradition in the ABS and other collections, the category Male is shown first.


Sex:
q
    Male
q
    Female
18. Depending on the collection methodology and number of people each form covers, the introductory question or statement may need to vary slightly. For example, a slight variation may need to be made to the standard question for self enumerated collections. The standard question set for a self enumerated questionnaire which collects data for more than one person is as follows:

Sex:
      Mark one box for each person.

Person 1
q
    Male
q
    Female
Person 2
q
    Male
q
    Female
Person 3
(etc.)

It may be offensive to ask the sex of the respondent

19. When collecting data on sex by personal interview, asking the sex of the respondent or other household members is usually unnecessary and may be inappropriate, or even offensive. It is usually a simple matter to infer the sex of the respondent or household member from other cues such as observation, relationship to respondent, or first name. If this is not possible, the interviewer should ask for each person not present at the interview, whether the person is male or female.

20. Category 3, 'Intersex or Indeterminate' should not generally be used on data collection forms completed by the respondent. It should only be used if the person or respondent volunteers that the person is intersex or where it otherwise becomes clear during the collection process that the individual is neither male nor female. Indeterminate is normally used for babies for whom sex has not been determined for whatever reason.


Standard input categories

21. The input categories are 'Male', 'Female' and the supplementary category, 'Not stated/Inadequately described'.



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