Methodological questions of migration and ethnocultural diversity in Population Censuses StatCapCA Training Workshop No 3 Dushanbe, March 2007 Werner Haug

Methodological questions Methodological questions of migration and of migration and

ethnocultural diversity in ethnocultural diversity in Population CensusesPopulation Censuses

StatCapCA Training StatCapCA Training Workshop No 3Workshop No 3

Dushanbe, March 2007Dushanbe, March 2007Werner Haug (3) Werner Haug (3)

Ethnocultural Ethnocultural caracteristics: topics and caracteristics: topics and questions in the Census questions in the Census

Werner HaugWerner Haug

12-16 March 200712-16 March 2007 StatCapCA Training WStatCapCA Training Workshop No 3, Dushanbeorkshop No 3, Dushanbe

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ContextContext

Data on ethnocultural characteristics Data on ethnocultural characteristics are of high relevance in the context are of high relevance in the context of migration, integration, minority of migration, integration, minority policies and diversity managementpolicies and diversity management

Different topics are concerned:Different topics are concerned:– Ethnic affiliationEthnic affiliation– Language knowledge and practiceLanguage knowledge and practice– Religious belonging and beliefsReligious belonging and beliefs


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PrinciplesPrinciples Ethno-cultural characteristics have a strong Ethno-cultural characteristics have a strong

subjective dimensionsubjective dimension The free and open declaration of the respondents The free and open declaration of the respondents

is therefore essentialis therefore essential Minorities may be vulnerable to discrimination Minorities may be vulnerable to discrimination

particularly on the grounds of ethnic affiliation particularly on the grounds of ethnic affiliation and religion and might need special protectionand religion and might need special protection

Appropriate data security and disclosure control Appropriate data security and disclosure control measures have to be put in placemeasures have to be put in place

Classifications have to be comprehensive and Classifications have to be comprehensive and coding procedures transparentcoding procedures transparent

Special monitoring procedures during the conduct Special monitoring procedures during the conduct of the Census might become necessaryof the Census might become necessary


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EthnicityEthnicity Information is collected to understand Information is collected to understand

cultural diversity, the position and cultural diversity, the position and participation of groups in society and for participation of groups in society and for anti-discrimination policiesanti-discrimination policies

Ethnicity is distinct from language and/or Ethnicity is distinct from language and/or religion but overlaps are frequent. The religion but overlaps are frequent. The combined collection of data on ethno-combined collection of data on ethno-cultural characteristics is particularly cultural characteristics is particularly informative and is recommended.informative and is recommended.

The use of the term nationality (which is The use of the term nationality (which is linked to citizenship) in place of ethnicity linked to citizenship) in place of ethnicity should be avoidedshould be avoided


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DefinitionDefinition

Ethnicity is based on a shared Ethnicity is based on a shared understanding of the history and understanding of the history and territorial origins of an ethnic group territorial origins of an ethnic group or community as well as on particular or community as well as on particular cultural characteristics (language, cultural characteristics (language, religion, customs and ways of life)religion, customs and ways of life)


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Practical aspectsPractical aspects Questionnaires should always include an Questionnaires should always include an

open question (not precoded) open question (not precoded) Respondents should be free to indicate Respondents should be free to indicate

more than one ethnic affiliation or a more than one ethnic affiliation or a combination of bothcombination of both

Respondents should be allowed to indicate Respondents should be allowed to indicate « none » or « not declared » when asked « none » or « not declared » when asked for their ethnicityfor their ethnicity

Countries should fix rules how the Countries should fix rules how the ethnicity of children from mixed couples is ethnicity of children from mixed couples is determineddetermined


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ClassificationsClassifications Classifications should be extensive, elaborated on Classifications should be extensive, elaborated on

the basis of scientific and socio-political concepts the basis of scientific and socio-political concepts and be discussed with ethnic groupsthemselves and be discussed with ethnic groupsthemselves

Classifications should include at the finest levels Classifications should include at the finest levels ethnic groups, self perceived groups, regional and ethnic groups, self perceived groups, regional and local groups and groups that are usually not local groups and groups that are usually not considered ethnic groups (e.g. nationalities in the considered ethnic groups (e.g. nationalities in the sense of citizenship)sense of citizenship)

Classifcations at the highest level depend on Classifcations at the highest level depend on national circumstances but the procedures for national circumstances but the procedures for coding and aggregation should be documented coding and aggregation should be documented and fully transparentand fully transparent


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LanguageLanguage

Information is collected to understand Information is collected to understand linguistic diversity and for language and linguistic diversity and for language and minority policiesminority policies

Different data may be collected, reflecting Different data may be collected, reflecting different aspects of the distribution, different aspects of the distribution, knowledge and use of languagesknowledge and use of languages

Definitions are extremely important and Definitions are extremely important and have to be spelled out for the respondentshave to be spelled out for the respondents


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Different questionsDifferent questions

1.1. Mother tongue: first language spoken in Mother tongue: first language spoken in the early childhood at homethe early childhood at home

2.2. Main language: language which a person Main language: language which a person commands bestcommands best

3.3. Language(s) most currently spoken at Language(s) most currently spoken at home and/or at workhome and/or at work

4.4. Knowledge of language(s), defined as the Knowledge of language(s), defined as the ability to speak and/or write one or more ability to speak and/or write one or more designated languagesdesignated languages


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Which questions for which Which questions for which purposes?purposes?

Mother tongue and/or main language areMother tongue and/or main language areasked to understand processes of language asked to understand processes of language change and determine language groups and change and determine language groups and ––regions. Answers refer generally to one language regions. Answers refer generally to one language onlyonly

Data on spoken languages and knowledge are Data on spoken languages and knowledge are asked to understand language practices in asked to understand language practices in everyday life and individual knowledge of everyday life and individual knowledge of languages. Questions have to allow for multiple languages. Questions have to allow for multiple answers.answers.

It is recommended to ask at least one question It is recommended to ask at least one question from the first and one from the second group of from the first and one from the second group of questionsquestions


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Practical aspectsPractical aspects

Many language groups are small. At least Many language groups are small. At least for the questions in the first group an open for the questions in the first group an open answer box should be available (without answer box should be available (without precoding)precoding)

Classifications should be comprehensive Classifications should be comprehensive and include on the finest level also and include on the finest level also regional dialects as well as invented and regional dialects as well as invented and sign languagessign languages

Coding and aggregation procedures should Coding and aggregation procedures should be clearly defined and fully transparentbe clearly defined and fully transparent


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ReligionReligion

Information on religion is collected to Information on religion is collected to understand religious diversity and to understand religious diversity and to develop policies with respect to members develop policies with respect to members of relious communitiesof relious communities

Different data may be collected, reflecting Different data may be collected, reflecting different aspects of religious beliefs and different aspects of religious beliefs and practicespractices

Data on religion are particularly sensitive Data on religion are particularly sensitive and for privacy reasons questions may be and for privacy reasons questions may be voluntary in some countriesvoluntary in some countries


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DefinitionDefinition

Religion is a set of beliefs and Religion is a set of beliefs and practices involving acknowledgement practices involving acknowledgement of a divine or higher being, power or of a divine or higher being, power or principle, by which people order the principle, by which people order the conduct of their lifes both practically conduct of their lifes both practically and in a moral senseand in a moral sense


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Different questionsDifferent questions

1.1. Formal membership of a community Formal membership of a community or churchor church

2.2. Identification with a certain religion, Identification with a certain religion, community or denominationcommunity or denomination

3.3. Religion in which a person was Religion in which a person was brought upbrought up

4.4. Religious beliefsReligious beliefs

5.5. Religious attendance and practiceReligious attendance and practice


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Which questions for which Which questions for which purposes?purposes?

Usually a question (1 or 2) referring to the Usually a question (1 or 2) referring to the relationship with a religious community is relationship with a religious community is askedasked

The question on the religion in which one The question on the religion in which one was brought up informs about religious was brought up informs about religious change and should be combined with change and should be combined with question one or twoquestion one or two

The questions on religious practices is The questions on religious practices is extremely sensitive and complicated in a extremely sensitive and complicated in a Census, it should rather be asked in Census, it should rather be asked in sample surveys. The same applies to sample surveys. The same applies to religous beliefs.religous beliefs.


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Practical aspectsPractical aspects Questionnaires should always include open boxes Questionnaires should always include open boxes

to allow small groups to identifyto allow small groups to identify Respondents should be allowed to indicate Respondents should be allowed to indicate

« none » or « not declared » when asked for their « none » or « not declared » when asked for their religionreligion

Countries should fix rules how the religion of Countries should fix rules how the religion of children from mixed couples is determinedchildren from mixed couples is determined

Classifications should be comprehensive and Classifications should be comprehensive and include on the lowest level also subsets of include on the lowest level also subsets of religions and churches, breakaway groups as well religions and churches, breakaway groups as well as belief systems that are not generally as belief systems that are not generally considered religions considered religions


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ClassificationsClassifications

On the highest level, a classification is On the highest level, a classification is proposed which distinguishes between six proposed which distinguishes between six Christian (including Catholic, Orthodox and Christian (including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant) and seven Islamic religious Protestant) and seven Islamic religious groups (Alawit, Ismaili, Ithna’ashari, Shia, groups (Alawit, Ismaili, Ithna’ashari, Shia, Sufi, Sunni, Zaydi) and five other religious Sufi, Sunni, Zaydi) and five other religious groups (including « other »)groups (including « other »)

Coding and classification procedures Coding and classification procedures should be clearly defined and transparentshould be clearly defined and transparent

Thank you very much Thank you very much for your attenion!for your attenion!

Documents

Methodological questions of migration and ethnocultural diversity in Population Censuses StatCapCA Training Workshop No 3 Dushanbe, March 2007 Werner Haug