Federal Science Expenditures Intended to Benefit Developing Countries

Detailed information for 2004-2005

This pilot survey will provide information about federal science expenditures towards developing countries by type of relevant activities in science and technologies and about obstacles and cooperative arrangements with foreign partners.

Data release - March 23, 2006

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

Description

The purpose of this survey is to address one of the nation's challenges outlined in the Speech from the Throne (February 3, 2004): to dedicate at least 5% of research and development investments in Canada towards work intended to directly benefit developing countries.

The population covered by this survey, being the same as the population covered by the Federal Science Expenditures and Personnel survey includes all federal departments.

The statistical information requested in this survey will be used to improve the understanding of Canadian investment in science and technologies directly toward developing countries. This survey contributes of the federal science and technologies strategy and is undertaken as part of the agreement reached with Canada's Office of National Science Advisor.

In order to enhance the analytic possibilities of this survey, Statistics Canada intends to combine the data from this survey with the data collected from the survey of Federal Science Expenditures and personnel.

The data collected from this survey will be used for economic analysis related to science and technology activities by federal and provincial science policy analysts

Reference period: fiscal period for which the final day occurs on or between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005

Collection period: October through February of the year after the reference period

Subjects

• Research and development
• Science and technology

Data sources and methodology

Target population

Federal Government departments, agencies, commissions, boards and crown corporations either performing Science & Technology (S&T) activities or have a budgetary allocation to fund S&T.

Instrument design

This questionnaire is designed to cover inputs to research and development (R&D) and related scientific activities (RSA) including expenditures by socio-economic objective engaged in science and technology. The form was developed to conform to guidelines established by the OECD in the Frascati manual (1993).

Sampling

This survey is a census with a cross-sectional design.

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 is mail-out /mail-back survey to all federal government departments and agencies believed to be performing or funding R&D or RSA.

Receipt, follow up, data control, edit, verification, data capture, revision and analysis are done by the Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.

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

Error detection

Data are edited to ensure internal logic and consistency and analysed for trends and validity. Each survey response is manually edited at the micro level.

We compare the survey data results with data results from the Federal Science-Expenditures and Personnel Survey to ensure consistency, quality and validity of the data.

Imputation

Missing data are manually imputed using internal ratios.

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 frequently held with major departments, financial offices and/or science offices 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

This methodology does not apply to this survey.

Data accuracy

Since the survey is a census of all known federal departments and agencies, only non-sampling errors are possible. Careful design of the questionnaire, extensive edits and monitoring of survey operations all help to limit the magnitude of other non-sampling errors.

The response rate for the Federal Science Expenditures Intended to Benefit Developing Countries Survey was 90%.