2011 UK Census

One of the goals in developing a programme of output for 2011 is to improve the presentation of metadata to provide a more inclusive and integrated data/metadata package. This aim seems to reflect the needs of users, whose early feedback about 2001 metadata indicated an underlying feeling that metadata needed to be more integrated with statistical output, and more ‘joined–up’ in terms of accessibility and timing of publication.

The results of the online output questionnaire give us some quantitative expression of user opinion of metadata. To some degree they present a somewhat mixed, but still overall more positive reception to 2001 metadata than early feedback suggested.

The vast majority of questionnaire respondents rated these aspects of 2001 Census metadata as ‘OK’.

However, it is noteworthy that only 5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, rated accessibility to 2001 metadata and the timing of metadata publication as being ‘GOOD’.

The questionnaire also asked users to rate both the technical level and the level of detail present in 2001 metadata. The majority of respondents, 84 per cent and 88 per cent respectively, thought that the detail and technical level of metadata supplied was about right,

Clearly this is an area where we need more feedback from users to fully capture user experience. We encourage users to start discussions here about some of the more detailed points. Join in and help shape an approach to achieve the goal to improved metadata integration and accessibility.

In the coming weeks we will be talking more about results from the questionnaire with an emphasis towards metadata planning for the 2011 Census, so check back soon.

Also, this website has a developing ‘wiki’ where the Census offices and experienced Census professionals will be collaboratively developing a source of technical and factual information about the specification and development of 2011 Census output. Much of this information should prove useful as a reference to filter in to 2011 metadata products. We encourage users to check the wiki as it develops over time, comment on the content as it grows, and join in and contribute ideas.

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