Census Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Who can access the Census data provided by the CDU- do I need a username/password?
- What is Federated Access?
- I’m being prompted to enter my “memorable” word
- How do I access the Census data?
- What Census resources are there?
- Can I convert Census geography to postcodes and vice versa?
- Are there any Deprivation Indexes available?
- Is there any digital boundary data available?
- What is the background to the Census?
- How do I find out which variables are available in which tables?
- What 2001 Census datasets are available at each geographical level?
- What is the difference between a CAS and ST Ward/Postcode sector and why?
- How do I cite use of the Census data?
- How do the Scotland, Northern Ireland, England/Wales Censuses differ?
- How are the 1991 and 2001 Censuses comparable?
- Is there any training available?
- I can't find a table in the 2001 Census that has the data I require, are there any other tables?
Q: Who can access the Census data provided by the CDU- do I need a username/password?
A: Any member of a UK Higher or Further Academic Institution or a Research Council may access the Census data provided by any of the ESRC Census Programme. Members of ESRC funded Research Councils may also have access.
Access to all Census resources is by UK Federated Access userids. Registration is handled by Census.ac.uk at the UK Data Archive. A number of Special Conditions apply to certain Census datasets and have to be agreed to separately before access is given. See the Registration section on the Census.ac.uk web site for more details on registering for census resources.
Federated Access is also known as:
- Shibboleth
- The UK Federation
- The UK Access Management Federation
It allows users to securely access external services using the same username and password as they do for local services at their institution.
Most institutions use Federated Access. Further details about the UK Federation: http://www.ukfederation.org.uk/
Q. I’m being prompted to enter my “memorable” word
To retain continuity of usage and avoid re-registration, existing users switching from Athens to the UK Federation need to enter some limited personal information, including a memorable word.
If you cannot remember your “memorable” word, or it simply does not work then please re-register.
Q: How do I access the Census data?
A: With Casweb - http://casweb.mimas.ac.uk/, this is a web based interface to the 2001, 1991 and 1981 Census data for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Q: What Census resources are there?
A: The 2001 Census of Population Programme is coordinated by Professor David Martin of the University of Southampton and covers the following Data Support Units:
The Census Dissemination Unit at MIMAS, University of Manchester supports the Census Area Statistics (2001, 1991, 1981) and postcode lookup tables.
The UKBORDERS service at EDINA, University of Edinburgh, supports digital boundary datasets.
The Centre for Interaction Data Estimation and Research (CIDER) at the University of Leeds and University of St Andrews supports the migration and travel to work statistics.
The Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research at the University of Manchester supports the Samples of Anonymised Records.
The Centre for Longitudinal Study Information and User Support at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine supports the Longitudinal Study.
All users wishing to use the area statistics, digital boundaries, interaction data or samples of anonymised records, should register via the Census Registration Unit, based in the UK Data Archive at the University of Essex.
Q: Can I convert Census geography to postcodes and vice versa?
A: GeoConvert is web based application that will match geographical areas, convert data captured at one geographical area to another or create whole look up tables for you with all the latest information form the National Statistics Postcode Directory. You can upload files of postcodes or other geographical zones or enter single postcodes. There is an option to add data items such as IMD deprivation scores, urban/rural indicators, Output Area clasifications, postcode metadata or National Grid reference codes.
UKBORDERS at Edina hold a comprehensive range of Postcode Directories which provide details of current and historic postcodes along with details of other geographies in which that postcode is located.
Q: Are there any Deprivation Indexes available?
A: Yes, take a look at the Deprivation web page in the 'Related Data' section.
Q: Is there any digital boundary data available?
A: Yes, a full set of census geography boundaries is available at UKBORDERS - http://www.edina.ac.uk/ukborders in SHAPE, E00, MIF/MID and DXF format. Your Census.ac.uk Federated Access userid will enable you to access this service.
Q: What is the background to the Census?
A: For a background to the latest Scottish Census see the GROS web site.
The National Statistics web site provides an insight into the history of the UK census, why we take a census and the background to the last census.
The National Archives also usually have interesting information on historical censuses, family history and genealogy.
Q: How do I find out which variables are available in which tables?
A: For the 2001 Census, National Statistics provide an Index of Topics that shows all the variable keywords and in which tables they are available. The Index is available as a PDF file and is searchable, so if you wish to know where to find information on 'Second Residence' you can select Edit-->Search from the menu (or Ctrl+F), type in Second Residence and find that this variable is available in Univariate Table 53, Standard Table 48 and CAS Table 48.
A list of all table titles is also available from National Statistics in PDF format, this gives a good indication of what topics and variables are contained within the tables.
Q: What 2001 Census datasets are available at each geographical level?
A:
Key Statistics are available at all levels: Country, Government Office
Region, County, Unitary Authority, District, Ward and Output Areas
in England. Country, Unitary Authority,Electoral Divisions and Output
Areas in Wales. Country, Council Areas, Postcode Sectors and Output areas
in Scotland. Country, District, Ward and Output Area in Northern Ireland.
Census Area Statistics (also Theme Tables and Univariate Tables) are available at all levels.
Standard Tables (and ST Theme Tables) are available down to District level in all countries, in England, Wales and Scotland all the tables are available at ST Ward level as well. In Northern Ireland, ST Wards were not created and so only a subset of Standard Tables are available (75 tables) at Ward level so that confidentiality threshholds are not compromised.
Armed Forces Tables are available in England and Wales only. In England they are available at Country, Government Office Region, County, Unitary Authority and District level. In Wales they are available at Country and unitary Authority level.
A graphical representation of the different levels and dataset availability is available.
Q: What is the difference between a CAS and ST Ward/Postcode sector and why?
A: In order to maintain confidentiality for the Standard Tables dataset (which contains the most information at the finest level), a higher threshold on the number of people and households was required. This means that some wards and postcode sectors fell beneath this threshold, in this case they were merged with neighbouring wards or postcode sectors. A full explanation is available on the National Statistics Geography web site.
Q: How do I cite use of the Census data?
A: Full details on how to cite data use is available at the Census.ac.uk web site - citing data
Q: How do the Scotland, Northern Ireland, England/Wales Censuses differ?
A: In many ways, and so, unfortunately it is not always possible to take data from one country and directly relate it to another. In some cases different questions were asked on the Census forms from country to country, or the same question was asked but different multiple choice answers were allowed, or different coding was applied when creating the output tables. Chapter 6 of the Census 2001 Definitions explains these differences, the Output tables listing (Chapter 8) in the Census 2001 Definitions also tells where there are differences between the countries.
Q: How are the 1991 and 2001 Censuses comparable?
A: Although the 2001 Census was drawn up with a requirement to be comparable with the 1991 Census, however, changes have been necessary to take into account harmonisation with other Government surveys, changing customer requirements and new data collection methodologies. Take a look at the 2001 Census Definitions, Chapter 4 for full details on comparing the 2001 and 1991 Censuses.
There is a free guide to comparing 1991 and 2001 Census ethnic group data available from the National Statistics web site.
Q: Is there any training available?
A: The CDU takes part in the Census.ac.uk training calendar and puts on training events a number of times each year in conjunction with a number of the other Census DSU's.
Q: I can't find a table in the 2001 Census that has the data I require, are there any other tables?
A: National Statistics created a number of commisioned outputs for customers who required customised tables. These customised tables are usually made available free of charge to all users once they have been created. See the National Statistics Commisioned Output web page for more details. Also see the Commisioned Table Finder, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet of available tables.
