Working Party on the Application of New Technology to Population Data
Second Meeting
1-3 April 1998
Singapore

• Introduction
• Impact of Internet on data collection
• Advantages of Internet enumeration
• Data collection flow with Internet
• Step by step guide to filling up an Internet form
• Conclusion
• Appendix 1

1. A special feature of Singapore's Census 2000 is the new mode of data collection through Internet. Instead of CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) or the traditional fieldwork mode of providing information to Census interviewers, members of households with Internet access may provide information through the Internet. This paper discusses aspects of Internet enumeration including the advantages, the steps involved and the requirements for successful enumeration.

2. Internet and its twin development "electronic mail" have established themselves throughout the world as an information gateway and a means of quick communication. Together with the rapid advancement of technology and rising computer literacy in Singapore, these factors have made possible Census enumeration through Internet.
3. The Singapore Department of Statistics has studied the potential of making available this mode of data collection for Census. Several issues that have been deliberated and are summarised briefly here:
   1. No Compromise to Data Quality - Internet enumeration is like any other data collection mode. Much depends on the quality of responses given by the respondent. To ensure data consistency, basic verification rules will be set into the system to ensure that the responses are not obviously wrong or inconsistent with those given earlier.
   2. Computer Hacking, Virus and Data Loss - This danger is minimised as the Internet Working Database is separate from the main Census Working Database through an air gap. A series of security features will also be incorporated to verify the identity of the respondent. The Internet Working Database will be checked thoroughly before stored data are transferred over to the main Census Working Database.
   3. Effectiveness of Data Collection Mode - Providing an extra mode of data collection gives the respondent greater flexibility and choice. The respondent assumes the responsibility of initiating the interview process by entering the Census website and filling in the form. The Internet is available 24 hours a day and for an extended period of time during the Census collection phase of the Census, unlike CATI and fieldwork where the enumeration period for each district is fixed. It is estimated that approximately 20% of respondents will choose this mode of data submission.
   4. Costs of System Setup - Additional costs from the initial setup is compensated mainly by savings from manpower efforts and printing of forms which would have been necessary through fieldwork.

4. In addition to the feasibility study of submitting data through the Internet, the Department also examined the advantages of Internet enumeration. The following provides a summary:
   1. For the Respondent - The respondent can provide information for the household at his own time and convenience. Should he not be able to answer all the questions at one go, he can save the data in the Census database. When he is ready to provide more information, he can retrieve the saved information and complete the forms. The forms will be designed in a simple and attractive format that will facilitate the provision of data. If the data that he finally provides is clear and complete, no manual intervention is required by Census Office.
   2. For the Census Office - The submitted Internet form will be transferred automatically to our computer data processors with minimal manual intervention. The automated process will be implemented in an integrated manner with other modules and enable large savings in manpower resources. There will also be time savings if the submitted forms are clear and complete. This will help to make possible quicker releases of Census results.

5. For a given district, Internet enumeration will be the first mode of data collection. Respondents will be encouraged to submit Census forms through this means. This is followed by CATI interviews and lastly by fieldwork for non-contact cases.
6. After the information has been collected via Internet for a specific district, the Internet Working Database will be transferred through an air-gap for merging into the main Census Working Database. The CATI method will be used to enumerate the remaining cases for that district.

7. Form filling on the Internet will be kept simple and plain to ensure maximum participation and comprehension on the part of the respondent. A summary of the Internet Enumeration instructions to the Internet respondent is given below:
   1. Notification - Every house that is selected for enumeration will be notified and provided with a password. Our database will carry the names of the residents in the house and their Unique Identification Number (UIN). Their UINs will be tied to the house password.
   2. Verification - Once the respondent logs on to the Census Internet enumeration page, he will be prompted for his UIN and house password before he is able to begin enumeration (Figure 1 in Appendix 1).
   3. Enumeration - Upon successful entry into the enumeration page, basic information on name, date of birth and sex will be displayed on screen. The names of household members will also be displayed. The respondent will be requested to fill in information for himself and his household members regarding household relationship, marital status, education, income, occupation, religion etc (Figure 2 in Appendix 1). On-line checks will prompt him to re-enter data that are clearly wrong or inconsistent with those given earlier.
   4. Incomplete Forms - If the respondent is not able to complete the forms, an option is available for him to save the data. He may recall his incomplete forms at a later date. If he does not return by the scheduled date for his district, his household will be earmarked for CATI.
   5. Confirmation - When the respondent has completed the Census form, the Internet screen will prompt him for a final confirmation of the information that he has provided.
   6. Because of the database approach and to ensure confidentiality, persons who have shifted house and changed house address on or after 1 Jan 2000 will be advised not to submit information on their households through the Internet mode. Also for each district, remaining household records will be transferred to the CATI mode after the period allocated for Internet enumeration is over for that district

8. Internet submission will be the new method of data collection to be tested and used in Singapore Census 2000. With the increasing popularity of PCs and Internet services, households may find this mode of data collection convenient and efficient. There will be good potential and advantages to encourage this advanced mode of self-enumeration in the eye of census planners and respondents.