Health Research and Development Expenditures by Therapeutic Class

Detailed information for 2008

The survey collects expenditure data on health research and development activities by therapeutic class in the Canadian business enterprise sector.

Data release - March 31, 2009 (intentions)

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

The survey collects data which are essential to plan and evaluate research and development programs.

The survey is sponsored by and collected for the Applied Research and Analysis Directorate (ARAD) -- Health Canada.

The data are used by the office of (ARAD) to monitor and support the development of Science and Technology policy. The results of this survey are published in "Industrial Research and Development", catalogue number 88-202-XIE.

Statistical activity

Science and technology (S&T) and the information society are changing the way we live, learn and work. The concepts are closely intertwined: science generates new understanding of the way the world works, technology applies it to develop innovative products and services and the information society is one of the results of the innovations.

People are looking to Statistics Canada to measure and explain the social and economic impacts of these changes.

The purpose of this Program is to develop useful indicators of S&T activity in Canada based on a framework that ties them together in a coherent picture.

Reference period: Fiscal year

Subjects

• Health
• Health care services
• Research and development
• Science and technology

Data sources and methodology

Target population

Survey is of all known and suspected, firms believed to be performing health research and development.

Instrument design

The form is designed to cover inputs to health research and development activity, by therapeutic class and stage of development for health research and development.

Sampling

This survey is a census.

Data are collected for all units of the target population, therefore no sampling is done.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

This annual postal survey is aimed at all firms believed to be performing health research and development.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .

Error detection

Data are checked against the questionnaire submitted for the survey of 'Research and Development in Canadian Industry' (Survey ID 4201), and previous returns.

Uncorrected coding errors are unlikely because of the examination of numerous tables and listings prepared for data analysis before tables are created. All data capture for science statistics is through manual intervention: key-edit or typed entry at a computer terminal.

Imputation

Although there are a number of edits, all cases of failed edit checks are corrected after consideration by editors. Missing data are estimated by internal ratios, questionnaire submitted for the Survey of Research and Development in Canadian Industry and previous returns.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

Data are edited and analysed to ensure internal logic and consistency for quality assurance. Activities are not based on standard accounts or classifications and inputs, but on financial data and respondents must generally estimate the data. Every effort is made to ensure the quality of the data and consultations are held with our respondents via meetings or telephone to verify or improve the quality of data received.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

In order to prevent any data disclosure, confidentiality analysis is done using the Statistics Canada Generalized Disclosure Control System (G-Confid). G-Confid is used for primary suppression (direct disclosure) as well as for secondary suppression (residual disclosure). Direct disclosure occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of or dominated by few enterprises while residual disclosure occurs when confidential information can be derived indirectly by piecing together information from different sources or data series.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Where required, data are revised historically every year of publication.

Data accuracy

All possible sources of error are examined below.

Coverage
Coverage is a minor source of error. Survey is of all known and suspected, firms believed to be performing health research and development.

Response
The response rate was 60%.

Non-response
Non-response error occurs because not all respondents cooperate fully. To alleviate the impact on the survey, respondents are usually asked to provide key variables and the others are estimated.