1264.0 - Language Variables, 1997  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/11/2008   
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Contents >> First Language Spoken >> Collection methods

COLLECTION METHODS

STANDARD QUESTION MODULES

38. There are two standard question modules for First Language Spoken:

      • The Question Module for Detailed Data elicits the most detailed responses and data on First Language Spoken.
        There are two alternatives for the Question Module for Detailed Data which may be used, depending on space and cost considerations:
          • Alternative one: a set of 'most likely' languages with tick boxes and an 'Other -please specify' response category for writing a language not specified in the tick box list;
          • Alternative two: a tick box for 'English' and an 'Other - please specify' write-in category.
        Alternative two is more compact but will incur additional coding costs.
      • The Question Module for Minimum Data contains only the tick box options 'English' and 'Other' and therefore does not collect details as to which language other than English is spoken.

Question module for detailed data

Alternative one

39. This standard question module for detailed data for First Language Spoken is recommended for all household-based and administrative collections designed to collect extensive data on first language spoken. It provides detailed information about the language background of the Australian population, in addition to identifying those respondents who may suffer disadvantage associated with a lack of English competence.

40. The standard question module for obtaining detailed data for First Language Spoken follows:

        Q1. Which language [did you ] [did the person] [did (name)] first speak as a child?
    Mark one box only.
    English
    q
    Italian
    q
    Greek
    q
    Cantonese
    q
    Arabic
    q
    Mandarin
    q
    Vietnamese
    q
    Spanish
    q
    German
    q
    Hindi
    q
    Other - please specify:

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40a. A computer assisted interviewing (CAI) module has been developed for the standard language variables. This module contains four standard language questions including the standard question module for obtaining detailed data for First Language Spoken and can be found in the Blaise instrument - see Appendix A for information on how to install and run this module. If you require assistance please contact the Assistant Director of Data Management, Dissemination and Survey Support on extension 6680.

40b. To use the standard question module for obtaining detailed data for First Language Spoken please inform Data Management, Dissemination and Survey Support at the question specification stage of survey development, by including a statement to that effect in your question specifications.

41. Interviewers should be instructed to mark 'English' for respondents who identify English and another language as their first language. If two (or more) languages are identified by the respondent, and none of them are English, interviewers should be instructed to prompt again for the predominant first language spoken. If more than one answer is still provided they should mark the first language mentioned as the respondent's first language. For self-enumerated questionnaires, respondents should be instructed to mark one box only.

42. The languages provided with this module have been included primarily on the basis of the statistical significance of these languages in the Australian context. Cantonese and Mandarin are both included to ensure that the response 'Chinese', for example, is not erroneously coded to one or the other. Approximately 90% of Australians speak at least one of these languages and the use of this list ensures compatibility across collections and minimises coding costs. This list will be reviewed periodically as different languages assume a greater or lesser significance in the Australian context as a result of changing migration patterns.

43. The 'Other' category is included for those people whose first language spoken is not offered in the list as a response to the question. 'Please specify' is added to the 'Other' category and a space is provided for respondents to write in their language.

44. Each language response to the question will need to be matched to an entry in the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition Coding Index (see Coding Procedures in Classification and Coding).

Alternative two

45. If there is a need for more detailed information but space constraints are an over-riding consideration then the tick boxes can be deleted (except the tick box for 'English'), leaving the 'Other - please specify' option for respondents to write in their language. If this is done, however, there will be significant additional coding costs since each response will need to be matched with an entry in the ASCL Coding Index (see Coding Indexes in Classification and Coding).

46. This is only likely to be appropriate in small scale data collection activities and in cases where data entry of verbatim responses is an administrative requirement or where optical character recognition data capture technologies are used, allowing automatic matching of response data with index entries. The question module would be as follows:


        Q1. Which language [did you] [did the person] [did (name)] first speak as a child?
    English
    q
    Other - please specify: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Question module for minimum data

47. The standard question module for minimum data for the variable First Language Spoken follows:

        Q1. Which language [did you] [did the person] [did (name)] first speak as a child?
    Mark one box only.
    English
    q
    Other
    q
48. This question is suitable for administrative collections or for surveys where there is no requirement for detailed language data or which have space constraints. It is primarily recommended as an identifier of those respondents who may require assistance to access services and information due to inadequate English language skills. Due to the greatly reduced length and detail of this module it is a far less precise measuring device for the identification of language background as it provides no information regarding the range of first languages spoken.


Standard input categories

Input categories for detailed data

49. The standard input categories for First Language Spoken are the base level units of the ASCL and are represented by their four-digit codes. For operational reasons, residual categories and codes and supplementary codes also exist to enable 'not elsewhere classified' and 'inadequately described' responses to be processed within a collection coded at the four-digit level. Full details regarding the standard classification and code structure, residual categories and codes, and supplementary codes can be found in the ASCL.

Input categories for minimum data

50. The standard input categories for the Question Module for Minimum Data are:

      • English
      • Other language.


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