Methodology and Quality Update

Methodology and Quality last update

26/03/2024 

Statistical Presentation

Data description

The Disability Survey presents data on persons with disabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Disability survey is a survey conducted to collect data on the basic characteristics as follows:
•    Provide data and indicators periodically to measure change over time, and make local, regional and international comparisons.
•    Provide data by disabilities for individuals with single and multiple disabilities, learning and demographic characteristics of persons with disabilities and their geographical distribution.
•    Produce basic health statistics that meet the needs of beneficiaries at the national and international levels.
•    Providing data on individuals with disabilities in the Kingdom in terms of their degree, types and causes.

Classification system

The following classifications are applied in the disability survey:
Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO_08):
A statistical classification based on the International Classification (ISCO_08) that provides a system for the classification and compilation of professional information obtained through censuses, statistical surveys, and administrative records.
This classification is used in the disability survey to classify employees based on their occupations.
Saudi Classification of Specializations and Educational Levels:
An statistical classification based on the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED_11) and (ISCED_13) for education and training, issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It serves as the reference classification for organizing educational programs and qualifications according to their levels and fields of study. It comprehensively covers all educational programs, levels, and methods, spanning from early childhood education to higher education levels.
This classification is used in the disability survey to classify individuals 15 years and over according to their majors and education levels.
National Code of Countries and Nationalities (3166 ISO – codes Country):
A statistical classification based on the international standard  (ISO 3166_Country codes), which is a standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO of the UN), and this classification gives numeric and literal codes for the world’s (248) countries, based on the classification of countries.  
The classification is used in the disability survey to classify Saudi or non-Saudi individuals. 
Metadata are collected through interview, so that outputs can be produces in accordance with all relevant classifications.
The classifications are available on the GASTAT’s website: www.stats.gov.sa

Sector Coverage

Not applicable.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and concepts for Disability Survey:
•    Persons with disabilities: 
People who are more likely than other populations to experience limitations in performing specific tasks or participating in an activity due to inadequate performance of basic activities such as walking, seeing, or hearing, even if conditions are improved using assistive devices, a supportive environment, or available resources. According to the Washington Group's difficulty rating, difficulties are measured in three degrees (mild - severe - severe (incapacitated)).
*Washington Group Definition

Statistical unit

The statistical unit in the disability survey is individuals with disabilities. 

Statistical population

The statistical community for the disability survey consists of families with a disabled person aged two years and over who are habitually resident in Saudi Arabia.

Reference area

The survey sample is a representative sample of individuals with disabilities in 13 administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Time coverage

Data are available from 2024.

Base period

Not applicable.

Unit of measure

Most results are reported as percentage (such as: Percentage of population with disabilities by type of disability and age groups).

Reference period

References period to the variables or dataset as following:
Geographical data, demographic data of persons with disability and characteristics of individuals and households of individuals with disability are based on the time of communication with the family.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality- Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1397, data must always be kept confidential, and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data are protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality- Data treatment

Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate its summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare data with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see the original questionnaire, which usually include data like names and addresses of individuals, and names of data providers, which violates data confidentiality of statistical data.
“Anonymity of data” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential,
GASTAT removed information on individual persons, households, or business entities such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly such as: (Names, addresses, contact numbers, or identification numbers.. etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents such as: (age, occupation, education etc.).

Release policy

Release calendar

The Disability Survey has been included in the statistical calendar.

Release calendar accessibility

The release calendar is available at: https://www.stats.gov.sa/statistical-calendar-releases

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the publication's results once the disability survey publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries of the clients about the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website: www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official e-mail address: info@stats.gov.sa
•    Client support e-mail: info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical phone (199009).

Frequency of dissemination

Every three years.

Accessibility and clarity

News releases

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 7.2. Release calendar access. The news releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link:
https://stats.gov.sa/news

Publications

GASTAT issues disability survey publications and reports regularly within a pre-prepared dissemination plan and is published on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, methodology and quality report, and questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The results of the disability survey are available at: 
https://www.stats.gov.sa/statistics

On-line database

Not available.

Microdata accessibility 

Microdata are unit-level datasets derived from surveys, censuses, and administrative records. These datasets provide detailed insights into individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas, supporting the development of statistical indicators and in-depth research.
The different types of microdata files to meet different information needs:
• Public use:
It consists sets of records containing information on individual persons, households, or business entities anonymized in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly (by name, address, contact number, identity number etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents: age, occupation, education etc.).
• Scientific use:
These files established based on specific methodology asked by data requester to extract the datasets with specific characteristics used for strategic studies and decision making as well scientific research purposes on individuals, households and enterprises with no direct identifiers, which have been subject to control methods to protect confidentiality.
Access to Scientific Use Files (SUF) is restricted to authorized researchers who comply with ethical and confidentiality standards. Representative samples of SUF can be obtained through GASTAT's secure platform, "Etaha," while more sensitive datasets are accessible only through secure physical lab environments managed by GASTAT.

Other

Not available.

Documentation on methodology

WG/UNICEF Child functioning Module (CFM) and the Washington Group (WG) "Washington Group on Disability Statistics- extended Questions" for the age group 18 years and older, were used for disability survey, based on the recommendations of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia "ESCWA" for the age group 18 years and older, the model (CFM) for children in the age groups (2-17) years was used. It is a short set of questions reflecting child function and performance, and adopts the International Classification of functioning, Disability and Health (ICF): Children and youth version: ICF-CY as a conceptual framework. The (CFM) model aims to: Collecting information on children with disabilities aged (2-4) and children aged (5-17), combining functions and behaviors in children as compared to their peers.

Quality documentation

Quality documentation covers the documentation of methods and standards for evaluating, measuring and controlling the quality of statistical processes and outputs, which are based on quality principles and standards such as: Relevance, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility, clarity, comparability, and consistency.

Quality Management

Quality assurance

GASTAT takes the following principles into consideration: Impartiality, user-oriented, quality of processes and outputs, effectiveness of statistical processes, and reducing the workload of respondents. 
The validity of data is verified through procedures and quality controls that are implemented during the process at different stages such as: (data entry, data collection, and other final controls).

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Relevance

User needs 

Internal users in the GASTAT for the disability survey data:
•    Health and education statistics 
-    Population, gender, and diversity.
External users and major beneficiaries for the disability survey data, include:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    Media.
•    Individuals.
The disseminated key variables that mostly used by key users:
Authority for the care of persons with disabilities –
Disability type by age group 

User satisfaction 

Not available.

Completeness

The data of the disability survey are based on the field survey of individuals with disabilities, which is conducted by the General Authority for Statistics every three years and falls under the category of social statistics (in which the data is collected through field visits to families of individuals with disabilities in various administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. complete electronic forms and data are completed, and indicators for persons with disabilities are provided.

Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

•    The data collected is improved through the researchers, that have been selected according to a set of practical and objective criteria and training program related to the field of work.
•    Alert, prevention, and correction rules are applied during the data collection process on the electronic questionnaire for the disability survey to improve data quality.
•    Data is checked with previous years to identify any significant changes in the data.
•    The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
•    The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality

Timeliness

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this Standard, all statistics agencies are required to publish data on an annual basis, and with a delay of not more than mid of year (180 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data are from different source, they may be published in a different frequency.

Punctuality

The publication is done according to the publication dates in the statistical calendar published for the disability survey on the website page of the General Authority for Statistics.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar, If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided.

Coherence and comparability

Comparability – geographical

The data is geographically comparable.

Comparability - over time 

The survey started in 2017 as part of the demographic survey, the major changes that have occurred in recent years:
•    2017: Using the Washington Group Short set Questions on functioning (WG-SS)
•    2021: The survey was not carried out due to the presence of the Corona crisis. 
•    2023: Using the Washington Extended set Questions on functioning (WG-ES) for age 18 and over 
•    2023: Using the WG/UNICEF Child functioning Module (CFM) for age group (2-17 ) years..

Coherence- cross domain 

Not applicable.

Coherence- sub-annual and annual statistics 

Not applicable.

Coherence- National Accounts 

Not applicable.

Coherence- internal 

Not applicable.

Used Resources

Data revision

Data revision - policy

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

data revision- practice

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Statistical processing

Source data

 The disability survey is the only source of data, with data collected from a sample of households by individuals with disabilities per household.
The disseminated key variables of disability survey data are :
•    Administrative region.
•    Age groups.
•    Type of disability.
•    Degree of disability.

Frequency and data collection 

Every three years.

Data collection

Data collection from survey:
Disability survey data is collected through computer-assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI).

Data Validation

Data are reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a way that suits their nature with the aim of giving the presented statistics quality and accuracy. 
The data of the current year publication are compared with the data of the previous year to ensure their integrity and consistency in preparation for processing data and extracting and reviewing results.
In addition to the data processing and tabulation to check their accuracy, all the outputs are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists in population, gender, and diversity statistics through modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.

Data compilation

Data Coding:
Interviewers in the disability survey collect from respondents, a detailed description of each field. This information is then coded in-house by an automated process, which is reviewed by a small-dedicated team of coding experts using a series of consistency checks.
Data editing:
Specialists of population, gender, and diversity statistics department have processed and analyzed data in this stage, and this step was based on the following measures:
•    Sorting and arranging data in groups or different categories in a serial order.
•    Summarizing detailed data into key points or data.
•    Combining many data segments and ensuring their interconnection.
•    Processing incomplete or missing data.
•    Processing illogical data.
•    Converting data into statistically significant data.
•    Arranging, presenting and interpreting data.
Compensation (for non-response cases or incomplete datasets):
•    The logic of field data and its referral to the researcher for a visit again,
•    Limiting data at the level of the areas of supervision and guidance by correcting the data on the field by repeating the visit.
•    No compensation shall be paid to families who have moved and those in their custody.
•    Use statistical criteria to measure loss such as measures of centralization, dispersion measures, and time series.
Extrapolation and weighting:
After processing the data collected from respondents, survey weights were generated to produce indicator tables by following two main steps in creating survey weights:
•    Adjustment of non-response.
•    Calibration weight.
Applied statistical estimation:
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of severity(Severe or Unable) in the Age Group (2 Years and Over) by Type of Disability and Administrative Area
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) in the Age Group (2 Years and Over) by Type of Disability, Gender and Administrative Area
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) in the Age Group (2 Years and Over) by Gender and Administrative Area
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) by ,one and multiple disabilities.
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) by the Targeted Age Groups )two years and above),one and multiple disabilities
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) by the Targeted Age Groups (two years and Over) ,Gender, one and multiple disabilities
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) For the Age Group (2-4) Years by Type of Disability and Gender
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of severity (Severe or Unable) For the Age Group (5-17) Years by Type of Disability and Gender.
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with One Disability and degree of  severity (Severe or Unable) For the Age Group (18 Years and Over) by Type of Disability and Gender

•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disability For the Age Group (three Years and Over) by Enrollment Status in Education and Gender
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disabilities for the Age Group (three Years and Over) by Education Status and Gender.
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disabilities for the Age Group (15 Years and Over) by Work Status and Gender
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disabilities for the Age Group (Two Years and Over) by Cause of Disability and Gender.
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disabilities for the Age Group (Two Years and Over) Who Use Assistive Devices by Type of the Assistive Devices
•    Percentage Distribution of Individuals with Disabilities for the Age Group (Two Years and Over) who need Supporting tools

Adjustment

Not applicable, only final results will be published.