Electronic Data Collection at Statistics Canada

1. Electronic Data Collection at Statistics Canada Kevin Roberts 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics May 2016

2. History of Electronic Collection • Electronic data reporting platform in place since 2003/04 • The concept of a fully functional web-based questionnaire introduced in 2008/09 • Increased demands from respondents for the move to e-questionnaires, to reduce burden, to create efficiencies, to ensure security • Web-based questionnaires with simple edits evaluated once data submitted – ongoing study and improvement 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

3. Types of Electronic Collection • Electronic questionnaires (EQ) • Completed by respondent; web based • Follow-up completed by interviewer • Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews • Completed by interviewer • Electronic file transfers • Data dumps from respondents, administrative data sources 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

4. Objectives/Advantages (1) • Reduced respondent burden • Improved response time and timeliness of cycle • Green initiative: save paper • Ensured privacy, confidentiality of data • Improved data quality through built-in edits, on-line help • Efficiencies generated 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

5. Objectives/Advantages (2) • Opportunity to standardize: • Design – common look and feel • Tools – built-in edits, instructions, help • Training manuals – common training for systems and shorter content-specific training • Collection strategies • Reports • Standardization should lead to efficiencies, quality, re-using best practices, transportable skills for staff 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

6. Objectives/Advantages (3) • Elimination of redundant capacity and collection applications (infrastructure) • Optimize the use of collection staff and systems • Fewer resources required to develop and maintain standardized tools • Development – fewer platforms to build, maintain • Testing – fewer platforms to test, integrate • Exploit and optimize the use of the web-based collection tool • Lower collection costs 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

7. Initial Concerns with EQ Collection (1) • Change management: Defining new roles and responsibilities, training, communication • Development of web-based functionalities • Ensuring uptake rates, response rates • Determining the optimal collection strategies: • Number of e-reminders and follow-ups • Respondent tolerance to edits • Need for metrics about why some respondents are not using web-based reporting tools 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

8. Initial concerns with EQ Collection (2) • Managing new functionalities: • Pre-fill authorization • Attachments • Respondents who must reply for multiple surveys • Surveys with multiple respondents • Delinquent responders • Live updates 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

9. Early results 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

10. EQ in the Energy Statistics Program • Annual and monthly surveys moving to EQ format • Challenges: • New survey content being introduced at same time • Some respondents don’t fill in questionnaires, but rather send data dumps • Functionality needs to improve • Move to a new processing system being introduced at the same time (IBSP) 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

11. Summary • Electronic collection: evolving, improving, many advantages • Energy program moving into that world • Future opportunities for using Big Data? 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics

12. Questions? Comments? 10th Meeting of the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics