Income bands

Questionnaire module

Requirements

A questionnaire module is required to:

• be suitable for the collection modes: self-completion, telephone or personal interview questionnaires
• elicit a single response
• either have two separate categories to collect data on zero or loss income, or one combined category for zero or loss income
• ensure aggregations and disaggregations compare to the standard classification. For example:
  • categories must be structured in the same format used in the standard classification, such as using categories $10,001–$15,000 rather than $10,500–$15,500
  • aggregations and disaggregations must be whole bands, for example, $1–$16,000 is not a full band and is not comparable to the standard, whereas $1–$20,000 is comparable to the standard
  • splitting a whole band into separate categories that add back to the whole band, for example, $10,001–$15,000 split to $10,001–$12,500 and $12,501–$15,000.

A source of income question may be used to prompt a response that includes all annual income.

Collection mode
The mode of collection and the way the respondent is asked for annual income data varies between collections. For example, where income band information is collected by telephone interview, the use of the income band classification in full is deemed too time-consuming and burdensome for the interviewee. Interviewers need to take a standard approach in using survey specific leading questions to obtain the band relevant to the person being interviewed. This strategy is currently under review.

A Census of Population and Dwellings question module for 2011 is being developed and will be inserted into the standard.

The questionnaire module below is an example that meets the requirements documented in this statistical standard. Other questionnaire modules may vary in format but should conform to the requirements in this statistical standard.  The following example is to be used as a guide.

Example