Building Census Data Literacy Through Open Asynchronous Training Resources

The UK Data Service is the largest repository for economic, population and social research data in the United Kingdom. We support a diverse user community in accessing and analysing data, including UK census data. However, the variety of census products and their differing structures can pose challenges for new and interdisciplinary users.

This presentation introduces a suite of freely available asynchronous training materials recently launched on the UK Data Service website to build foundational census data literacy. The resources cover all four core census products: microdata, macrodata, boundary data and flow data. They explain what each product represents and how it can be accessed. They also provide introductory skills and hands-on exercises to enable users to analyse each type of data with confidence.

Designed for flexible self-paced learning, these materials target higher education students, researchers and policymakers. This presentation reflects on the pedagogical approach, accessibility considerations and the challenges and lessons learned during the development of these asynchronous resources.