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Using Statistics Canada Census Data in Institutional Research. Karen Menard and James MacLean Presentation to CUPA – June 23, 2009. Presentation Format. Census data Practical application using census data. Census Data. The Data Liberation Initiative
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Using Statistics Canada Census Data in Institutional Research Karen Menard and James MacLean Presentation to CUPA – June 23, 2009
Presentation Format • Census data • Practical application using census data
Census Data • The Data Liberation Initiative • Offers Canadian universities and colleges affordable access to data for the purposes of academic teaching and research.
Census Data • How to access the data? • Through OCULA using Odesi software. • Through IDLS – but must have subscription service to download files. • Both services allow you to select standard datasets produced by Statistics Canada. • Files can usually be downloaded in either Beyond 20/20 or ASCII format. • Customized datasets available through Statistics Canada for a fee.
Census Data • What data is available? • Information on population, families, households, dwellings, income, education, employment, housing, ethnicity, marital status, gender, etc.
Census Data • Geographical levels for dissemination • Canada • Ontario • Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) • Census SubDivisions (CSD) • Forward Sortation Area (FSA) • Census Tracts (CT) • Dissemination Area (DA)
Census Data • Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) • Formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered around a large urban area. Smaller centers must have a high degree of integration with the central urban area as measured by commuting flows from the census place of work data.
Census Data • Census Subdivisions (CSD) • Area that is a municipality or deemed to be equivalent for reporting purposes. • As an example, the London CMA includes nearby towns such as St. Thomas, Port Stanley, Strathroy. The London CSA will include only the city of London.
Census Data • Forward Sortation Areas (FSA) • A Canada Post code which is based on the first 3 characters of a postal code. Limited census data is available at this level.
Census Data • Census Tract (CT) • Small, relatively stable areas that usually have a population of 2500 to 8000 with a preferred average of 4000 - - equivalent to about 1650 households. • CT area is reasonably homogenous in economic status and social living conditions.
Census Data • Dissemination Area (DA) • Smallest standard geographic area for which all census data are disseminated, with a population between 400 – 700 persons - - equivalent to about 250 households. • Respect the boundaries of census tracts.
Census Data • City of London
London Neighborhood near University showing Census Tracts and Dissemination Areas
Hierarchy of standard geographic units (from Statistics Canada)
Census Data • Using Dissemination Area Data • Statistics Canada makes available a Postal Code Conversion File that provides a ‘best-fit’ match between a six-character postal code and standard geographical areas such as census tracts and dissemination area. • This file is your link between the census data and your internal data using postal code as the common variable.
Postal Code Conversion File showing 6-character postal code and ‘best-fit’ dissemination area
Extract from Beyond 20/20 census file showing Dissemination Area (col 1-4 and col 8-11) and selected census variables