I'm a census researcher ask me anything

[censusresearch]

I work for a local authority as a census research officer so use the information you put on your census forms.

@DancesWithDaffodils

I'm fairly certain DH didnt need his work postcode - he's down as working from home currently, but, pre pandemic, would drive 40 miles each way. I'm still physically in work, so had to input my postcode.

It asks for it if you tick the employed box.

@Susie477

Do people actually get prosecuted for not filling in the forms or giving false information?

Most people believe there are millions of ‘undocumented’, ie illegal immigrants in this country. How are these accounted for in the census?

Hardly any,maybe a handful. I've never heard of any local prosecutions.

Households who haven't returned the form get a visit, there are services to help immigrants who might not speak English or struggle with the form in English. Translation help is available in many languages not just European ones.

Why are you asking for work/commuting information based on covid, when it is likely to be different for a lot of people in a couple of months?

I just did mine. It didn't ask for my work address at all, probably because I ticked to say I was working from home. The form specifically says to enter your current working arrangements, even if these are due to covid.

@gurglebelly

Why are you asking for work/commuting information based on covid, when it is likely to be different for a lot of people in a couple of months?

I did my return online and it asked for my employers postcode so it has the data for where I'm normally based rather than my home postcode. I'll have to look at my paper form and see how it's worded on there.

Can I check if I have been on the census for every one I've been alive for?

@ConnieDobbs

I just did mine. It didn't ask for my work address at all, probably because I ticked to say I was working from home. The form specifically says to enter your current working arrangements, even if these are due to covid.

I hadn't noticed that but then I did my return online. Maybe I didn't read it properly 🤫 I don't have any professional involvement with the census form and questions only with the data afterwards.

@VaggieMight

Can I check if I have been on the census for every one I've been alive for?

No.

I'm fairly certain DH didnt need his work postcode - he's down as working from home currently, but, pre pandemic, would drive 40 miles each way.
I'm still physically in work, so had to input my postcode.
It asks for it if you tick the employed box.

No it doesn't. It asks how you travel to work/where you mainly work at the current time (online it specifically said if your working practice has changed because of covid, you should use what you currently do). For me that is working from home so it doesn't open the question about work address. In June I'll have a 25 mile one way commute

Do I have to give my name?

@gurglebelly

*I'm fairly certain DH didnt need his work postcode - he's down as working from home currently, but, pre pandemic, would drive 40 miles each way. I'm still physically in work, so had to input my postcode. It asks for it if you tick the employed box.*

No it doesn't. It asks how you travel to work/where you mainly work at the current time (online it specifically said if your working practice has changed because of covid, you should use what you currently do). For me that is working from home so it doesn't open the question about work address. In June I'll have a 25 mile one way commute

Oh well I did mine wrong then Don't tell my boss

@JackieWeaver

Do I have to give my name?

Errm, yes

Does it bother you that activists are working to make it impossible to accurately know how many males and females there are in the UK now at a population level and for medical purposes?

And for accurate crime stats?

@minchinfin

Does it bother you that activists are working to make it impossible to accurately know how many males and females there are in the UK now at a population level and for medical purposes?

Yes and yes to your other question too.

why when it asks if you spent more than 30 days away from home can you only give one location?

I don't understand why people are pissed off about the gender question when it asks for your sex as well.

My question is why do they want to know what i got in my gcses 20+ years ago?

Why does it ask how my 3 year old would describe her national identity? She appeared thoroughly baffled by the question, as one might have expected.

What are you supposed to put for language if someone can't speak? In any language? Annoys me that BSL is there as a language - but if you can't speak OR sign at all??? There's just no option for that.

because initially the guidancesaid you could put what sex you felt rather than what sex you were actually born with. And even now after the court ruled against the ONS on this, you can still put your sex post a gender reassignment certificate, so still not the sex you were born as.

So as per my questions (thank for the answers OP, god to know logic and common sense prevails amongst researchers at least), data accuracy is fundamentally damaged.

I'm putting Dudeist as my religion will anyone care or do they just ignore.

@DonGray

why when it asks if you spent more than 30 days away from home can you only give one location?

The assumption that most people doing that would be either people working away from home at a regular location, at a holiday home or a child with an absent parent. It's not a perfect system.

@SirSamuelVimes

Do you know what "sex" means? Do you think we should be give false answers that make us happy, or are factually accurate?

Impressed this was the third question in, and not the first 🙄

@DudeistPriest

I'm putting Dudeist as my religion will anyone care or do they just ignore.

It'll go down as 'other religion'

It'll go down as 'other religion
Well that is just like, their opinion, man.