2901.0 - Census Dictionary, 2006 (Reissue)
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/07/2007 Reissue
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Sex On this page: Applicable to: All persons 1. Male 2. Female Total number of categories: 2 More Detailed Description Quality Statement - Sex (SEXP) There are many aspects which can affect the quality of Census data; the following information should be considered when viewing data on Sex (SEXP) This data was captured automatically from check box responses on the form so the risk of processing error is minimal. Sample checks of the data were undertaken to ensure an acceptable level of quality. There is no non-response for Sex (SEXP) because missing values for this item are imputed. If a form was received but Sex was not stated then it was imputed using other information on the form, such as name, relationship or number of children. If this was not successful then sex was allocated randomly. Clerical intervention was also required in cases where both responses were marked. These various types of imputations occurred for 2.4% of persons. In some cases where a form was not received for an occupied dwelling, the collector still was able to provide the total number of males and females in that dwelling on Census Night. This information was obtained from residents during the Census collection period. Greater emphasis was placed on these procedures in the field in 2006 than in 2001. In cases where no such information existed, the number of males and females (and therefore SEXP) was imputed for that dwelling. In 2006, SEXP was imputed for the 2.5% of persons who were imputed into dwellings for which no form was received and counts of males and females were not obtained from the collector. In 2001, SEXP was imputed similarly for 2.1% of persons. The ABS aims to produce high quality data from the Census. To achieve this, extensive effort is put into Census form design, collection procedures, and processing procedures. There are four principal sources of error in Census data: respondent error, processing error, partial response and undercount. Quality management of the Census program aims to reduce error as much as possible, and to provide a measure of the remaining error to data users, to allow them to use the data in an informed way. When completing their Census form, some people do not answer all the questions which apply to them. In these instances, a 'not stated' code is allocated during processing, with the exception of non-response to age, sex, marital status and place of usual residence. These variables are needed for population estimates, so they are imputed using other information on the Census form, as well as information from the previous Census. The processing of information from Census forms is now mostly automated, using scanning, Intelligent Character Recognition and other automatic processes. Quality assurance procedures are used during Census processing to ensure processing errors are kept at an acceptable level. Sample checking is undertaken during coding operations, and corrections are made where necessary. The Census form may be completed by one household member on behalf of others. Incorrect answers can be introduced to the Census form if the respondent does not understand the question or does not know the correct information about other household members. Many of these errors remain in the final data. More detailed information on data quality is available in the 2006 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0), in the section titled Managing Census Quality.
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