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First Workshop for Improving Disability Statistics and Measurement
Bangkok, 24-28 May 2004

Slide 1

Data collection methods, user needs and developing survey instruments

Ken Black


Slide 2

Data collection methods

  • Three main sources of information on disability:
    • Administrative data
    • Population Censuses
    • Sample surveys
      • including disability modules or
      • full disability survey
  • Each method has relative strengths and weaknesses and suit some purposes better than others

Slide 3

Population Censuses

  • Most countries have 10 yearly censuses of population and housing to collect basic demographic statistics of their population
  • The UN provides guidelines for the conduct of population censuses, including suggested content and methods
  • Disability is suggested as one of the topics to be included in population censuses
  • UN has published a set of guidelines on the collection of disability information - Guidelines and Principles for the Development of Disability Statistics, 2001

Slide 4

Population Censuses

  • Collection of disability information in population censuses has advantages and disadvantages compared with other methods
Advantages Disadvantages
* Provides data for small, local areas * Limited space on census forms limits detail of questions possible
* Provides data for rare populations * Usually infrequent
* Detailed cross-tabulations of data usually possible * High non-response and under enumeration because of census methods
* Can provide the population for follow-up surveys * Costly
* Uses existing statistical program to collect disability data  

Slide 5

Sample Surveys

  • Can be either dedicated disability collections or disability modules in other population surveys
  • Are used to produce population estimates from information collected from a sample of the population
  • Can collect much more extensive information on disability compared with censuse

Slide 6

Sample surveys

Advantages Disadvantages
* Disability information can be very detailed * Large sample errors on small estimates and prevalence rates
* Can produce higher quality data than censuses through detailed questions and use of interviewers * Small area statistics limited
* Can provide useful time use data * Surveys often exclude parts of the population, such as institutionalised persons
* Can include a wide range of other statistics to help in understanding the nature and context of disability  

Slide 7

Combination of methods

  • A combination of survey, census collections and administrative data can provide the most extensive set of information about disability
  • Best when information from different sources is relatable though use of the same or relatable concepts and definitions

Slide 8

Discussion point

Are countries in the region planning to:

  • include disability items in their next census
  • include disability modules in other social surveys, or
  • conduct specific disability surveys?

Or a combination of these?


Slide 9

Needs for disability information


Slide 10

Consultation on information needs

  • It is important to develop surveys in conjunction with key users of the statistics and people with disabilities
  • ABS does this by convening Advisory Groups
  • The most important role of the Advisory Group is to advise the ABS on information need
    • Identify and document broad issues, as well as fine level details
    • Identify and document the key policy issues that will be informed by the survey data
    • Where there are competing needs for information, sometimes need to compromise to ensure achievement of the highest priority information needs

Slide 11

Issues to be considered by the Advisory Group

  • In order to define the survey objectives and output, the Advisory Group should consider:
    • What is the population of interest?
    • What data items are important?
    • Why is the information needed?
    • Who is going to use the information?
    • What will it be used for?
    • What are the key policy questions the information is required to inform?
    • What is the desired accuracy? Of what data items?
    • How often is the information needed?
    • Is the need for a once off, or regular collection?

Slide 11

Membership of Advisory Group

  • The group has a broad representation of key clients including:
    • Government (at all levels)
    • Peak bodies and advocacy groups
    • People with disabilities
    • Academics and researchers
  • Each of these types of key clients are likely to have different needs and understanding of people with disabilities

Slide 13

Role and meetings

  • The role of the advisory group is not limited to advising on the most important data needs. The group can also advise on:
    • the testing of survey instruments, including suggesting people to be involved in the testing process
    • the content of survey outputs
    • data analysis priorities
  • The group should meet regularly over the survey cycle to:
    • provide input as required
    • understand the survey data and
    • promote the survey results

Slide 14

Discussion point

How does the Australian Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Advisory Group operate?

Relationship with other groups such as the Census Advisory Group on Disability and the Advisory Committee on Australian and International Disability Data?


Slide 15

Developing disability surveys


Slide 16

Survey Cycle

Survey Cycle


Slide 17

Overview of survey stages and costs

Component Proportion of total costs
Survey content development and infrastructure establishment
30%
Collection and field management
41%
Collection and data capture of establishments component
4%
Output processing and weighting
7%
Output validation, weighting , publication and Confidentialised Unit Record File production
18%
Total
100%

Slide 17

Overview of survey development process - Key steps

Client liaison

  • Identify user needs
  • Prioritise competing needs

Planning

  • Identify the key population and sub-populations of interest, including conceptualisation and definition of disability
  • Decide survey content, including domains of ICF to attempt to include in collection
  • Consider scope and coverage issues
  • Budget issues
  • Timetable issues
  • Detailed planning of staffing, including interviewers
  • Determine mode of data collection, eg, face to face or telephone interview

Slide 19

Overview of survey development process

Key steps (continued):

Survey development

  • Individual question design including response categories
  • Sequencing and flow of the survey instrument
  • Testing and validation

Sample design

  • Determine sample size to achieve estimates of desired accuracy (sampling error) or sample that can be achieved with fixed budget
  • Sample frame
    • area
    • list
    • combination of both

Slide 20

Scope and coverage

  • Who is to be included in the collection?
    • adults
    • children?
    • older people?
    • carers?

Issues

    • Does the information required for each of the population groups differ?
    • Consider separate questionnaire or components within the questionnaire?

Slide 21

Scope and coverage (continued)

  • What types of dwellings/accommodation to include?
    • private dwellings
    • special dwellings, such as hotels, motels, camping grounds and hospitals
    • institutionalised accommodation, such as hostels, group homes, institutions

Issues

    • cost of including/excluding types of accommodation
    • bias of excluding types of accommodation
  • Geographic areas
    • Any limitations on the geographic areas to include in the collection?

 


   
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