TECHNICAL NOTE - DATA QUALITY
NON-SAMPLING ERROR
1 Non-sampling errors may arise as a result of errors in the reporting, recording or processing of data. These errors can be introduced through inadequacies in the questionnaire, treatment of non-response, inaccurate reporting by providers, errors in the application of survey procedures, incorrect recording of answers and errors in data capture and processing.
2 The extent to which non-sampling error affects the results are difficult to measure. Every effort is made to minimise non-sampling error by careful design and testing of the questionnaire, the use of efficient operating procedures and systems, and the use of appropriate methodologies.
Reliability of Statistics
3 When interpreting the statistics in this publication, the reliability of the estimates may be affected by the following specific non-sampling errors:
- Many businesses provided estimates due to a lack of separately recorded data on R&D activity.
- The OECD standard definition of R&D used in this survey may differ from what businesses regard as R&D activity. This is mainly due to slight differences, from the international standard, in the R&D definition used within the grants for industry R&D schemes (for the allocation of grants) and the AusIndustry administered R&D Tax Concession scheme (for tax deductibility for specific R&D activities). It is possible that some businesses have not reported R&D data as per the OECD definition.
- Data were subjectively classified, by businesses, to research fields and socio-economic objectives at the time of reporting. Some businesses may have experienced difficulty in classifying their R&D programs. The ABS makes every effort to ensure correct and consistent interpretation and reporting of these data by applying consistent processing methodologies.
Treatment of non-response
4 Non-responding businesses which reported R&D activity in the previous cycle, had data imputed based on the 2004-05 expected R&D expenditure provided in 2003-04.
5 Data are not imputed for non-responding businesses which have not previously reported R&D activity. These units are not expected to have significant levels of R&D activity.
REVISIONS
6 Revisions to previous cycle data occur on discovery of: errors in previously reported data; and newly identified R&D performers in the previous cycle(s). Where newly identified R&D performers indicate that significant levels of R&D have been undertaken in earlier years, details are collected and used to revise previously released estimates.
7 Revisions only occur for significant changes to the data, where the impact from individual businesses is $5 million or more. Revisions are only applied up to two cycles prior to the current cycle.
8 In 2004-05, changes to statistical units resulted in substantial improvement to the industry classification of businesses included in the ABS R&D survey. As a consequence, industry level estimates included in this publication for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are significantly revised from those previously published.
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