2011 UK Census

Here we'll look at even more 'joined-up' data - the idea of bringing together Census results with statistics from sources other than the Census.

After the 2001 Census a series of 'Focus on' reports were produced. Each 'Focus on' report concentrates on a particular topic or theme such as Families. Each provides an overview that combines data from various sources, including the 2001 Census, to illustrate it's topic, and also provides links to further information.

Just under a quarter of users who answered the online questionnaire said they had made use of one or more of the 'Focus on' reports, so this shows at least a modest level of user need or interest in combined source statistics.

These reports were something of a first step into the area of coherent joined up data. It is possible that their use was not more popular either because users were not aware of them, or the reports did not quite match their specific need. Interest in combined source data for users of 2011 Census data may therefore be higher than for 2001.

To address this, the online questionnaire attempted to gauge user expectations or needs for 'joined-up' statistics incorporating 2011 Census data.

Question How useful would you find it if Census data were linked to other sources of data by:

• providing links from Census tables and reports to other data sets and reports on the same topics
• bringing together Census and other data sources at a high geographical level (similar to Focus on reports)
• bringing together Census and other data sources at low geographical level (eg as in Neighbourhood Statistics (NeSS)).

(Options: Very useful, Of some use, Not useful)

62 per cent of respondents say that they think it will be very useful to have links from Census tables and reports to other datasets or reports on the same or similar topics. Of these, users from the Academic, Health and Local Government user groups were the most likely to say this facility would be very useful, but the broad pattern of user opinion was similar across all groups.

This pattern is also reflected in user opinions about how useful bringing together Census data with other data sources at low geographical levels, similar to the Neighbourhood Statistics Service (NeSS), will be. Here, 71 per cent of respondents say that they think it will be very useful and the groups most likely to say this were the Academic, Health and Local Government user groups.

40 per cent of users, said that it would be very useful to bring together Census and other data sources at a high geographical level (similar to 'Focus on' reports), and 48 per cent thought that this would be at least of some use.

Although lower than interest in joining up small area data, these values far exceed the proportion of users who have used the 'Focus on' reports from 2001. So, it seems that users at least see the potential in this form of joined-up output, but perhaps feel that the potential has not yet been realized enough to exploit many of the benefits.

If you have specific views in this area, including more detailed ideas and requirements for how output similar to 'Focus on' reports might be extended or improved upon, then please let us known my commenting here or posting in the forum. Alternatively let us know if you disagree or have views about other forms of such joined-up data. Many more users seem interested in joining up data at lower levels, so again we are interested in any further thoughts or requirements.

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