SOCIOLOGY 272 Library Instruction Class: Locating and Using Census Data

1. SOCIOLOGY 272 Library Instruction Class: Locating and Using Census Data November 2010

2. Learning Objectives • Background on Censuses in Canada • Introduction to • Locating Census Data using E-STAT • Locating Census Data using Topic-Based Tabulations • Using CANSIM • Mapping a Census characteristic in E-STAT

3. What is E-Stat? • Statistics Canada product • Provides access to socio-economic data about Canada (from CANSIM) • Free, online, interactive tool • Only available to educational institutions • Provides access to Census data: population & agricultural censuses

4. Why Use E-Stat? • Some of the reasons why you might use E-Stat … • To make investment decisions • To evaluate social conditions • To conduct feasibility studies • To conduct market analyses • To forecast economic conditions • To plan programs or services • To profile demographics

5. What is CANSIM? • Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management System • Statistics Canada product • Database of social and economic data about Canada and Canadian life • Different tiers of service: • Fee-based commercial service • Institutional subscription to universities/colleges via E-stat • CANSIM/E-stat data is updated annually in the summer • Contains over 42 million time series’

6. Topics Covered by CANSIM • Aboriginal peoplesAgricultureBusiness performance and ownershipBusiness, consumer and property servicesChildren and youthConstructionCrime and justiceCulture and leisureEconomics accountsEducation, training and learning EnergyEnvironmentEthnic diversity and immigrationFamilies, households and housingGovernmentHealthIncomes, pensions, spending and wealthInformation and communication technologyInternational tradeLabour • LanguagesManufacturingPopulation and demographyPrices and price indexesRetail and wholesaleScience and technologySeniorsSociety and communityTransportationTravel and tourism

7. Census • What is it? • Why is it conducted? • How often is it done? • What kinds of questions are asked? • How is it administered? • Why do Sociologists use Census data?

8. What is a Census? An official count of the citizens who live in a particular country. It is used to get an accurate picture of a country’s size and the characteristics of the people who live there.

9. What is the Purpose of the Census in Canada? • To adjust federal electoral districts (for seats in Parliament) • To help determine federal transfer payments • To help determine government programs and services, including health-care, education, transportation • To assist in social and economic research

10. About the Census • 1871-1981 - census was conducted every ten years • 1981- today - census conducted every five years • Did you know? • The census is always conducted on the second Tuesday in May. • Why? Need to balance between unfavourable weather, poor road conditions, accurate crop acreage, summer holidays, people moving in June

11. Census Questionnaires Census of Population: Two questionnaires • Everyone answers 10 questions in 2011: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-08-21/html/order-decret-eng.html • National Voluntary Household Survey (distributed to 4.5 million households) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/survey-enquete/household-menages/5178-eng.htm • Long-form Census Questionnaire Controversy: On June 26, 2010, Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, announced that the voluntary National Household Survey (NHS) would replace the mandatory long-form census questionnaire in Canada.   The government's decision has fueled a heated debate between those who view the previously mandatory long-form questionnaire as an invasion of privacy, and those who see it as an important source of information essential to public policy, research and business

12. Census Questions Change The census both reflects AND helps to shape the “population” and our image of it … A few examples: • Head of household Until 1976 “head of household was defined as the husband, but in 1981 it was dropped entirely • “Infirmities” Until 1911, respondents were asked to disclose whether members of their household were bind, “deaf and dumb”, insane or “simple minded” • Common law relationships (since 1991) • Housework (since 1996) • Same sex common law couples (since 2001)

13. Sample Question from 2006 Census 33.Last week, how many hours did this person spend doing the following activities:         • doing unpaid housework, yard work or home maintenance for members of this household, or others?               Some examples include: preparing meals, washing the car, doing laundry, cutting the grass, shopping, household planning, etc.               • None               • Less than 5 hours               • 5 to 14 hours               • 15 to 29 hours               • 30 to 59 hours               • 60 hours or more

14. Locating Census Data Using E-STAT

15. 1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

16. 2. Click on “E-STAT” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

17. 3. Click on “Search Censuses in E-STAT”

18. 4. Select “2006 Census” and click “Go”

19. 5. Select “2006 Census of Population (Provinces, Census Divisions, Municipalities)” and click “Go”

20. 6. Select “2006 Cumulative Profile” and click “Go”

21. 7. Select “2006 – Canada, Provinces and Territories (1)” as the Geographic Region

22. 8. Click on “View checklist” to select multiple characteristics

23. 9. Scroll down to locate the variables that you need

24. 10. Check off the variables that you want

25. 11. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Return to selection page”

26. 12. Scroll down and click on “Reduce or sort geo list”

27. 13. Select “Canada” to limit your geographic area and then scroll down

28. 14. Select “HTML Table (Geography=Columns)” and then click “Go”

29. 15. Review results and then change the display to be percentages instead of actual data

30. 16. The information is now displayed as percentage (%)

31. 17. Scroll down and change your screen output to a Pie Chart

32. 18. Data displayed as a pie chart

33. NOTE: You can also search for Census Data that is only about specific areas, such as Kamloops, using “Census Subdivisions” in your “Geographic Region” section Scroll down and click on “Reduce/Sort Geo List”

34. Select “Kamloops (B.C.) [CY]” as the Geographic area

36. Locating Census Data Using Topic-Based Tabulations

37. 1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

38. 2. Click on “Statistics Canada” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

39. 3. Click on “Data, products and services” in the Census box

40. 4. Click on “Data products” in the left-hand navigation bar under 2006 Census

41. 5. Click on “Topic-based tabulations”

42. 6. Click on “variable categories (A to Z list)” if the topic you want is not on the first page

43. 7. Use the alphabetized list to locate the topic and then click on the topic you want

44. 8. Click on “Free” next to the table that you want

45. 9. Use the drop-down boxes to select the variables

46. 10. To calculate the %, you must do the math! To calculate the % of males in the 15-24 age group that do 15-29 hours of unpaid housework, use the circled numbers. Calculation: 100705/2145570*100 = 4.7%

47. Using CANSIM

48. 1. Click on “Statistical Sources” on the TRU Library Homepage

49. 2. Click on “E-STAT” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

50. 3. Click on “Search CANSIM in E-STAT”