The following script can be used as a guide for completing the question modules for the Age variable. It includes the recommended question module and the alternative question modules. The alternative question modules can be used by collection areas if the recommended question is not feasible. It is not mandatory to use this script.
1. Recommended question
1A. What was [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] date of birth?
The recommended response format is Date of Birth: _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
When answering this question a respondent should state their date of the birth. Date of birth is the date a person was born, not the date of their last birthday. The recommended format is: dd/mm/yyyy (where dd is day, mm is month, and yyyy is year of birth).
Interview based surveys
The interviewer asks the question for date of birth as it is stated: What was [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] date of birth? The interviewer records the day, month and year in the format dd/mm/yyyy
Self enumerated questionnaires
The respondent records the day, month and year of their birth in the space provided and in the format dd/mm/yyyy
2. Alternative question modules
2A. Age last birthday? OR what was [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] age last birthday?
This question collects a person's age at their last or most recent birthday.
Interviewer based surveys
For interviewer based surveys, the interviewer asks the respondent the question: 'What was [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] age last birthday?', as it is stated. The interviewer records the respondent's reported age last birthday in the space provided. Age last birthday should be collected as a three digit field.
Self enumerated questionnaires
For self enumerated questionnaires, the respondent records their 'age last birthday' in the space provided. Age last birthday should be collected as a three digit field.
2B. What is [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] age in complete years?
This question collects a person's current age in complete years.
Interviewer based surveys
For interviewer based surveys, the interviewer asks the respondent the question: 'What is [your] [the person's] [(name)'s] age in complete years?' as it is stated. The interviewer records the respondent's reported age in the space provided. Age should be collected as a three digit field.
Self enumerated questionnaires
For self enumerated questionnaires, the respondent records their age in complete years in the space provided. Age should be collected as a three digit field.