Census 2013

Forums › Off topic › Census 2013

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

3197 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766660 20-Feb-2013 19:53
Do they use a partially automated scan + ocr + human review? or is data entry a 100% manual process?

DarthKermit

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766665 20-Feb-2013 20:04
We ain't had ours here yet either.

Kyanar

1935 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766668 20-Feb-2013 20:06
nunz: Turning back to the census. One of the first processes your information goes through is anonimisation. You are turned from Joe Bloggs into a gendered person of certain age, socio econominc demographics, race, religion and other statisitcally relevant features. At this point you are nothing more than a number which cannot be traced back to an individual. Think of it this way - your data is fed into a black box program that a on the other side of an impenertrable wall assigns a number against your stats and then hands it off to the statistical crunching machine. Your name is no longer able to be put against your stats as the black box doesnt know who you are and the feeder of data doesnt know what number you were given. Your stats are divorced from you. Studies have actually proven, however, that given sufficiently large data sets, the anonymization process is actually reversible. I very much doubt that StatsNZ would ever intentionally allow this to occur (its very existence is predicated on the gathering of information deemed either too sensitive or too worthless for the private sector to do it, and census data is the very definition of sensitive) but the fact remains that a) the forms are not destroyed. This is a huge risk, though one suspects mitigation of said risk is a key goal there b) the information in the hands of a malicious individual with sufficient determination and resources can be reversed into data regarding an individual. It would do a lot to mitigate concern if Stats NZ was a bit more transparent in how they handle the data, and weren't to actually keep it in its original form.

nunz

121 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766671 20-Feb-2013 20:12
Are you saying they don't destroy the data? I personally am not sure . Sounds like a really need my movi hey.

jeffnz

1023 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766674 20-Feb-2013 20:15
The information you provide is protected by the Statistics Act 1975 and must be kept confidential by Statistics NZ. Census information can only be used for statistical purposes and must be reported in a way that cannot identify you. No other organisation ? including the New Zealand Police, Immigration New Zealand, or Inland Revenue ? can obtain information from us that identifies you. The only people who have access to your personal information are those authorised by the Government Statistician. Each of them must sign a declaration of secrecy. They cannot reveal your information to anyone else ? if they do, they can be prosecuted. Statistics NZ keeps census information secure at all times. Forms are stored securely and access to electronic data is strictly controlled via passwords, firewalls, and encryption to prevent unauthorised access. The Public Records Act 2005 requires that census forms be retained. After 100 years, census forms may be made available for statistical research. This research must be approved by the Government Statistician and meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act 1975. Galaxy S3 Wanam 4.1.2

Bung

939 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 766687 20-Feb-2013 20:33
They do and they don't "The Public Records Act 2005 requires Statistics NZ to keep a complete set of 2013 Census forms. After 100 years, custody of the forms will pass to Archives New Zealand, although access will be controlled by the Government Statistician. All 2013 Census forms will be stored as digital files by Statistics NZ. Information from census forms completed online will be retained as a computer dataset and, after scanning, the paper forms will be stored as images." "When the paper forms are no longer required for processing purposes, they will be destroyed." http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/about-2013-census/what-hpns-yr-cens-form.aspx

StevieT

264 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 766699 20-Feb-2013 20:47
Kyanar: nunz: Turning back to the census. One of the first processes your information goes through is anonimisation. You are turned from Joe Bloggs into a gendered person of certain age, socio econominc demographics, race, religion and other statisitcally relevant features. At this point you are nothing more than a number which cannot be traced back to an individual. Think of it this way - your data is fed into a black box program that a on the other side of an impenertrable wall assigns a number against your stats and then hands it off to the statistical crunching machine. Your name is no longer able to be put against your stats as the black box doesnt know who you are and the feeder of data doesnt know what number you were given. Your stats are divorced from you. Studies have actually proven, however, that given sufficiently large data sets, the anonymization process is actually reversible. I very much doubt that StatsNZ would ever intentionally allow this to occur (its very existence is predicated on the gathering of information deemed either too sensitive or too worthless for the private sector to do it, and census data is the very definition of sensitive) but the fact remains that a) the forms are not destroyed. This is a huge risk, though one suspects mitigation of said risk is a key goal there b) the information in the hands of a malicious individual with sufficient determination and resources can be reversed into data regarding an individual. It would do a lot to mitigate concern if Stats NZ was a bit more transparent in how they handle the data, and weren't to actually keep it in its original form. http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/about-2013-census/2013-census-forms-guidenotes.aspx First question: What is your full name? So much for anonymity. Unless you aren't required to answer that question...

josephhinvest

www.hinve.st
720 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766700 20-Feb-2013 20:48
At the risk of derailing the discussion and invoking mod wrath, if you are considering writing in "Jedi" or similar in the optional religion question, please consider reading this very brief article, which explains how this does not actually count the same as "No religion" and is actually advantageous to the number of people identifying as religious. Cheers, Joseph Ninja edit, forgot the link!

BigHammer

1802 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766702 20-Feb-2013 20:50
We only received our papers yesterday. Census date is March 5. There's plenty of time yet! Samsung Galaxy SII (I9100T) ROM: Omega v20.1 - XWLSD 4.1.2 JB Kernel: Philz Modem: XXLS8

nickb800

1129 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766708 20-Feb-2013 20:52
Thanks for that Shane, interesting to hear it spoken from the 'inside' of that particular machine As someone who uses census data regularly, I kindly ask of you all that you think of all the downstream users like myself that rely on anonymised data from honestly filled out surveys for socially-beneficial research.

alasta

2301 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766711 20-Feb-2013 20:52
I haven't received my forms either which is hardly surprising considering that my flat is at the back of the property where noone would ever find me, and I'm hardly ever home anyway due to a plethora of personal and work commitments. I've heard that it will be possible to complete the form online this time around so I'm guessing I don't need the forms, but I suppose I should check to be sure.

nunz

121 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766715 20-Feb-2013 21:02
StevieT: Kyanar: nunz: Turning back to the census. One of the first processes your information goes through is anonimisation. You are turned from Joe Bloggs into a gendered person of certain age, socio econominc demographics, race, religion and other statisitcally relevant features. At this point you are nothing more than a number which cannot be traced back to an individual. Think of it this way - your data is fed into a black box program that a on the other side of an impenertrable wall assigns a number against your stats and then hands it off to the statistical crunching machine. Your name is no longer able to be put against your stats as the black box doesnt know who you are and the feeder of data doesnt know what number you were given. Your stats are divorced from you. Studies have actually proven, however, that given sufficiently large data sets, the anonymization process is actually reversible. I very much doubt that StatsNZ would ever intentionally allow this to occur (its very existence is predicated on the gathering of information deemed either too sensitive or too worthless for the private sector to do it, and census data is the very definition of sensitive) but the fact remains that a) the forms are not destroyed. This is a huge risk, though one suspects mitigation of said risk is a key goal there b) the information in the hands of a malicious individual with sufficient determination and resources can be reversed into data regarding an individual. It would do a lot to mitigate concern if Stats NZ was a bit more transparent in how they handle the data, and weren't to actually keep it in its original form. http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/about-2013-census/2013-census-forms-guidenotes.aspx First question: What is your full name? So much for anonymity. Unless you aren't required to answer that question... TROLL. THe first thing that happens is your nameis doviroced from your stats.

nunz

121 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 766718 20-Feb-2013 21:08
nickb800: Thanks for that Shane, interesting to hear it spoken from the 'inside' of that particular machine As someone who uses census data regularly, I kindly ask of you all that you think of all the downstream users like myself that rely on anonymised data from honestly filled out surveys for socially-beneficial research. There goes my attmept to be a Lesbian Pygmy born in the salt mines of uzbekistahn who practices occult voodo statanist worhipping bhuddist mantra enlightment zen animism and who has achieved the grand age of 365 while being polygimisly married to a series of name changing (female) rock stars. But yes - stats can be helpful :) Thanks for the thanks.

SaltyNZ

2089 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 766721 20-Feb-2013 21:10
Not all of you have received forms yet because the process of distributing them has not completed. If you have received the forms you're not supposed to fill them out until the night of Tuesday 7th (? from memory) of March. iPad + iPhone 4S + 2degrees 3G data 4tw! These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

turnin

140 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 766726 20-Feb-2013 21:23
I realise the census needs to be as accessible as possible to all of the population but I do wonder if a web option would bring down the cost ! For some reason I didn't get my forms and ordering another form was to be honest a lengthy process. If referendums and census could be achieved electronically we could have much more regular gatherings of public opinion.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8