What can I use area data and microdata for?

What can I use census area data for?

• Calculating rates/percentages of phenomena such as unemployment or limiting long-term illness (LLTI) for areas
• Mapping the variables or rates for areas using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software, see Geographies and Map Resources for Use with Census Data
• Determining the relationships between variables by drawing scatterplots and calculating correlations of, for example, unemployment and LLTI rates

What can I use microdata for?

• Redefining variables
  Detailed information can be grouped into a new variable suitable for a particular application. For example, detailed information on ethnicity can be grouped according to the needs of the user
  
  
• Creating customised tables
  Cross-tabulations of variables not available in the Census Area Statistics can be created. For example, only limited information about migrants is available from the Area Statistics and Special Migration Statistics. The SARs can be used to provide cross-tabulations of the distance moved by migrants together with their age, sex, tenure, educational achievement and whether they reported limiting long-term illness (see Boyle et al., 2002)
  
  
• Carrying out statistical analyses
  Analysis of microdata can be carried out using techniques that are not necessarily applicable to area data. Techniques include analysis of variance, logistic regression and cluster analysis. For example, variations in unemployment between ethnic groups by age and sex can be examined, looking at factors associated with or determining that variation
  
  
• For further information see Dale et al. (2000)