SOCI 272 Library Instruction Class: Locating and Using Census Data

Brenda Smith, MA, MLISbrsmith@tru.ca

18 November 2009

Topics Covered

• Background on Censuses in Canada• Introduction to

o Locating Census Data using E-STATo Locating Census Data using Topic-Based

Tabulationso Using CANSIMoMapping a Census characteristic in E-STAT

Census

• What is it?• Why is it conducted?• How often is it done?• What kinds of questions are asked?• How is it administered?• Why do Sociologists use Census data?

Sample Question from 2006 Census

33. Last week, how many hours did this person spend doing the following activities:

(a) doing unpaid housework, yard work or home maintenance for members of this household, or others?

Some examples include: preparing meals, washing the car, doing laundry, cutting the grass, shopping, household planning, etc. o None o Less than 5 hours o 5 to 14 hours o 15 to 29 hours o 30 to 59 hours o 60 hours or more

Locating Census Data using E-STAT

1. Click on E-STAT on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

2. Click on Search Censuses in E-STAT

3. Select 2006 Census and click “Go”

4. Select “2006 Census of Population (Provinces, Census Divisions, Municipalities )” and click “Go”

5. Select “2006 Cumulative Profile” and click “Go”

6. Select “2006 – Canada, Provinces and Territories (1)” as the Geographic Region.

7. Click on “View checklist” to select multiple characteristics

8. Scroll down to locate the variables that you need

9. Check off the variables that you want

10. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Return to selection page”

11. Scroll down and click on “Reduce or sort geo list”

12. Select “Canada” to limit your geographic area and then scroll down

13. Select “HTML Table (Geography=Columns)” and then click “Go”

14. Review results and then change the display to be percentages instead of actual data

15. The information is now displayed as percentage (%)

16. Scroll down and change your screen output to a Pie Chart

17. Data displayed as a pie chart

Scroll down and click on “Reduce/Sort Geo List”

NOTE: You can also search for Census Data that is only about specific areas, such as Kamloops, using “Census Subdivisions” in your “Geographic Region” section

Select “Kamloops (B.C.) [CY]” as the Geographic area

Locating Census Data using Topic-Based Tabulations

1. Click on “Statistics Canada” on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

2. Click on “Census” in the left-hand navigation bar

3. Click on “Data products” in the left-hand navigation bar

4. Click on “Topic-based tabulations”

5. Click on “variable categories (A to Z list)” if the topic you want is not on the first page

6. Use the alphabetized list to locate the topic

7. Click on “free” next to the table that you want

8. Use the drop-down boxes to select the variables

9. To calculate the %, you must do the math!

To calculate the % of males in the 15-24 age group that do 15-29 hours of unpaid housework, use the circled numbers.

Calculation: 100705/2145570*100 = 4.7%

Using CANSIM

1. Click on E-STAT on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

2. Click on Search CANSIM in E-STAT

3. Type “absence” in search box to locate tables

4. Select appropriate title and click on the table number

5. Select sex (female) and Union coverage (select all)

6. Select absence rates (total days lost...) and five year period

7. Click on “Retrieve as a Table”

8. Select “vertical bar chart” as output format and then click on :Retrieve now”

Vertical Bar chart

Mapping a Census characteristicin E-STAT

1. Click on E-STAT on the TRU Library’s Statistical Sources page

2. Click on Search Censuses in E-STAT

3. Select 2006 Census and click “Go”

4. Select “2006 Census of Population (48 Census Metropolitan Areas/Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts)

5. Select “2006 Cumulative Profile” and click “Go”

6. Select “Kamloops (27 areas) and “Areas sorted by Name”

7. Click on “View checklist” to select the characteristic

6. Select ONE variable “Males 15 years and over – Hours spent doing housework”

9. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Return to selection page”

10. Scroll down and select “Map” as output format and then click on “Retrieve now”

Map of Kamloops Census Tracts