8150.0 - Use of the Internet on Farms, Australia, 2007-08 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/08/2009   
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QUALITY DECLARATION - SUMMARY

INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

For information on the institutional environment of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), including the legislative obligations of the ABS, financing and governance arrangements, and mechanisms for scrutiny of ABS operations, please see ABS Institutional Environment.


RELEVANCE

The publication, Use of the Internet on Farms, Australia (cat. no. 8150.0), presents final estimates for internet use indicators collected on the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS).


TIMELINESS

Use of the Internet on Farms, Australia (cat. no. 8150.0) is generally published within 13 months of the end of the reference period. It follows the principal agricultural and land use releases from the 2007-08 ARMS.


ACCURACY

Data from the 2007–08 ARMS are based on a response rate of 87.4% and have been extensively quality assured. The resultant value estimates have been checked against earlier years and relevant other sources, including contact with data providers, to ensure the accuracy of the estimates produced.


COHERENCE

The Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) was conducted for the first time in 2007-08 as a result of changes to the ABS Agricultural survey program. The ARMS combines the annual Agricultural Survey with a benchmark survey of land management practices by agricultural businesses, and a survey of management responses to adverse seasonal conditions experienced by affected agricultural businesses.

The 2007–08 Agriculture Resource Management Survey (ARMS) was conducted using new, and expanded, frames based on the Australian Taxation Office's Australian Business Register (ABR). Detailed explanatory and technical notes relating to this change in frame were included in the 2005-06 PDF release of Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).

The expanded frame means that estimates relating to internet use indicators for the 2007-08 ARMS may not be directly comparable with earlier years. The range and level of detail of internet and computer use estimates was reduced for the 2007–08 ARMS as compared to previous years. It is therefore recommended that care be taken when comparing estimates across different reference periods.

Use of the Internet on Farms, Australia (cat. no. 8150.0) covers the demand side of the Internet market among agricultural businesses. The following ABS collections cover the demand side of the Internet market from different perspectives:

  • The Business Use of Information Technology (BUIT) (cat. no. 8129.0) collection focuses on the demand side of the market i.e. how businesses use the Internet. It covers all internet activity by businesses (economy wide);
  • Household Use of Information Technology (HUIT) (cat. no. 8146.0) collection focuses on the demand side of the market i.e. how households use the Internet;
  • The Census of Population and Housing, which occurs every 5 years, collects data relating to dwelling use of the Internet and the major connection used; and
  • Internet Activity, Australia (IAS) (cat. no. 8153.0) covers the supply side of the Internet market and should not be directly compared.




    INTERPRETABILITY

    The ARMS, Agricultural Surveys and Agricultural Censuses provide a broad range of data about Australian agricultural commodities through a suite of standard products or as data customised for individual requirements. Detailed explanatory notes are provided with each publication to assist users in determining and specifying their data requirements and to understand the concepts underlying the data.

    The Internet Activity (cat. no. 8153.0), Business Characteristics (cat. no 8167.0 and cat. no. 8129.0) and the Household Use of IT (cat. no. 8146.0) surveys provide a broad range of indicators of internet use in Australian through a suite of standard products. Detailed explanatory notes are provided with each release to assist users to understand the concepts underlying the data.


    ACCESSIBILITY

    For links to data and publications relating to internet activity and information and technology statistics please see the Innovation, Science and Technology theme page in the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.

    For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.


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