Statistical methods

About the Thematic Search Tool

The Thematic Search is intended to assist persons who want to know whether Statistics Canada has information on a given subject, and if so which survey(s) collected it (since 1985).

This extensive information base consists of text only and is organized into fairly lengthy sections each describing, in detail, individual surveys: what variables or subjects did it collect data for; what definitions are used, what methodology or questionnaire was used; what are the data quality indicators; how are the data files structured and what they contain, what published output from the survey is available; where and from whom can additional information be obtained (for example, about options in terms of obtaining the raw data, microdata files or having special tabulations run).

Currently, this search tool focuses on social surveys. Work is underway to add information about all other surveys, e.g. economic, business and trade surveys.

As new information is obtained, the tool is updated. While frequency of updating is irregular and varies according to information available, a new version is generally placed on this website at two to three week intervals.

There are several ways to use this tool: before using it, we recommend that you read the following instructions.

Instructions for Using This Tool

This tool is essentially a large database of descriptive material providing details about the surveys undertaken by Statistics Canada and about the resulting data files. The database has been organized in broad thematic categories (such as child care, ethno-cultural or health).

Important: The database is managed by software that is separate from the Website itself; that is why you will see buttons at the bottom of your screen that are unique to this area of the website.

Finding information

There are three choices:

1. Browsing the Information Base, Using a Thematic Approach:
   
   First, you choose a topic from the list of Main Themes - for example, Health. You will see an alphabetical list of subjects that have been the focus of StatsCan surveys in the Health area. In other words, you will see an alphabetical list of variables for which data has been collected. By selecting a particular subject (or variable) you are then presented with a list of surveys that collected information on that subject. Selecting a particular survey then leads to a variety of information options for the survey: general information, concepts and definitions, methodology and questionnaire used, data quality indicators, a description of the structure and contents of data files, products and services from the survey and how to obtain more information on that particular source of data.
   
   
2. Searching for a Specific Survey
   
   Rather than looking for a given *subject*, you can look for a given *survey*. Look at the bottom of your screen, click the button labeled "Contents" and simply scroll through the list to find the survey of interest.
   
   At this point, you have two choices:
   
   
1. Click on the survey name to inspect the survey document.
   
   
2. Click on the plus sign to the left of the survey name to see a more detailed breakdown of the survey document. You can now click on the name of a sub-portion of the survey document.
   
   
3. Keyword Search
   
   A keyword search may be done at any time by clicking on the "Query" button which appears at the bottom of your screen.
   
   
1. Click on the "Query" button at the bottom of the screen and fill in the search terms.
   
   
2. You should see a message showing the number of hits, for example, "Records with Hits - 29".
   
   
3. You may then view your hits by clicking on one one of the two icons which appear right above "records with hits", one leading to an overview of hits in the table of contents, and the other, to the hits themselves, within the document. The buttons which appear at the bottom of your screen, i.e. "Next hit" and "Previous hit" allow you to move from one hit to the other.

How to Contact Us

For more information on any given survey or to obtain statistical data:

1. contact our National Capital Region advisory services at the following internet address: infostats@statcan.ca
   
   
2. contact our advisory services by telephone (Click here for numbers); or
   
   
3. contact the subject matter person identified for the specific survey (under "For more information" in the section dealing with the survey)

For comments on the use of this search tool or suggestions for its improvement:

This tool is constantly being updated and often modified as feedback is received from users for improving its functionality. Your comments and suggestions are important and would be very much appreciated. Please direct your feedback to: