Documentation for the Workshop / Country Papers : China

Survey and census sources of national disability data

Country: China

1. Overview of survey or census

Title of survey or census
1987 National Sampling Survey on Persons with Disabilities
Date of latest data collection
May 15th,1987
Periodicity of survey or census (continuous, annual, ad hoc, 10 or 5 yearly in case of census etc.)
ad hoc
Contact person(s) for the survey/census (include title, office mail address, phone, , email, , etc.)
title: Information Center of China Disabled Persons' Federation
office mail address: xxzx_zhc @ cdpf.org.cn
phone: 86-10-65234347
fax: 86-10-65287255
website: www.cdpf.org.cn

2. Brief summary of survey or census

Describe what information on disability is collected
What uses are made of the data and who are the users?
Based on the data, China government found it is pressing to establish an organization to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities, improve their conditions, and exploit the potentials of disabled persons. In 1988, China Disabled Persons' Federation (abbreviated as CDPF) was established.
Were users involved in deciding what information to collect?
What definition of disability was used?
The survey object consists of persons with disabilities as follows: visual disabilities, hearing disabilities, mental disabilities, physically disabilities, mental illness and multi-disabilities. Each category has its definition.(But no English edition)
Were data collected and compiled according to international standards or national classifications and definitions? (e.g.ICIDH or ICF)
No

3. Scope of survey or census

Describe the population covered in the survey (age, private dwelling population, institutionalised population, etc.)
the whole population of sampled region

4. Coverage and sampling

Coverage of survey or census (how well was the scope achieved)
The survey covered 369,816 households, 1,579,314 persons, which accounted for 1.50‰ of the whole population of China.
Sample frame(s) (sample size? Sample frame based on lists, area, register, etc.)
The survey adopted system sampling method by stratification, and the sample frame was based on area.

5. Are there other data sources which you use to benchmark your survey results? (e.g. previous surveys to compare with? what evaluations did you make of the results?)

No

6. Response and non-response

What was the response rate?
97.35%
Did you evaluate the non-response? (e.g. break it up into full and partial? impact of non-response? follow-up studies? imputations for missing items?)

7. Data collection (Attach or mail us a copy of your questionnaire)

Manner of collection (face-to-face interviews, self-administered questionnaire, telephone, other?)
face-to-face interviews
Type of respondent (who replied? The disabled person or proxy for the person?)
The disabled person
Format of questions (how many questions? pre-coded standardised?)
Most questions just need the interviewed to choose his/hers choice. there were 26 questions, all pre-coded standardised.
List the languages used in the survey or census
Chinese

8. Measurement error

Which special data collection procedures were undertaken to reduce measurement error (e.g. pilot testing of questions and questionnaire? training of interviewers? detailed coding instructions? follow-up of non response by specialist staff?)
pilot testing of questions and questionnaire; training of interviewers; detailed coding instructions; follow-up checking by specialist staff

9. Highlights of the strengths and limitations of survey or census

Strengths: (e.g. a very detailed survey; sound sample design; use of international standard concept and classifications, etc.)
The first and unique survey of disabled persons in China.
Limitations: (e.g. high relative standard error for small population groups/geographic areas; respondent overload due to length of questionnaire; lack of consistency or survey items across surveys, etc.)
Lack of questions about economic status of disabled persons

10. List published sources on disability statistics

1987 National Sampling Survey Data on Persons with Disabilities

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