2011 census: Quality assurance
We put the 2011 census outputs through a rigorous quality assurance process before we published them.
2011 Census Quality Strategy
The Office for National Statistics published the Census Quality Strategy in 2011.
It provided a general framework for how the quality of 2011 census data could be:
- defined
- managed
- measured
The strategy did not set out specific standards or measures of census quality.
Our quality assurance process
We published several documents that detailed how we would quality assure 2011 census data. These were:
- our Quality Assurance Strategy
- detailed plans for the Quality Assurance process
- a Quality Assurance Pack
A variety of comparator sources were used during the quality assurance process.
We also formed an advisory group to support our quality assurance of 2011 census data. The group was made up of our own staff and representatives from local authorities.
Find out more about the advisory group.
Census Quality Survey
The Census Quality Survey was a follow-up survey to the main census. It was designed to help us assess quality of responses to the main census.
Summary results from the Census Quality Survey are in section 9 of the Scotland's Census 2011 General Report.
Data quality issues
Within 2011 census data, there are some known data quality issues.
These are:
- household relationships data quality issues
- adjustments to published census estimates to avoid disclosure through differencing between geographical areas
- impact of building blocks on 2011 Census population and household estimates for 2001 datazones
You can check known quality issues with specific census variables in our metadata section.