Interpretation related to the allocation of work to the Economics and Social Science Services (EC) occupational group

1.1 General Activities

Activities defined in the general definition for the EC group that apply to the economics, sociology and statistics stream are those that are primarily involved in:

• the application of a comprehensive knowledge of economics, sociology or statistics to the conduct of economic, socio-economic and sociological research, studies, forecasts and surveys;
• the research, analysis and evaluation of the economic or sociological effects of departmental or interdepartmental projects, programs and policies;
• the development, application, analysis and evaluation of statistical and survey methods and systems; and/or
• the development, analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative information and socio-economic policies and recommendations.^{Footnote 1}

1.2 Types of work included in the EC group definition for the Economics, Sociology and Statistics Work Stream

These activities are further refined by the inclusion statements 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the EC group definition. They must be read in conjunction with the general definition and link to that work context. Positions have responsibility for one or more of the following activities:

Inclusion 5:

the application of a comprehensive knowledge of economics, sociology or statistics to economic, socio-economic or sociological studies, forecasts and surveys in a variety of subject areas in domestic and/or international settings;

Inclusion 6:

the application of a comprehensive knowledge of economics, sociology or statistics to the development, application and evaluation of statistical and survey methods and indicators for use in natural or social science research projects, or in the planning of surveys and censuses or in the determination of statistical measures and techniques for data analysis and reporting;

Inclusion 7:

the provision of advice in the fields of economics, sociology and statistics; and/or

Inclusion 8:

the leadership of any of the above activities.

1.3 Types of work excluded from the EC group definition for the Economics, Sociology and Statistics Work Stream

The following types of work are excluded from the Economics, Sociology and Statistics work stream of the EC group definition by the group definition exclusion statements:

1.4 Examples of Work found in the Economics, Sociology and Statistics Work Stream

Based on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) assignments in the Position Classification Information System (PCIS), the majority of positions in this EC work stream are coded: Economists and Economic Policy Researchers and Analysts - 4162; Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers – 4164; Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers - 4165; and Statisticians – 2161.

2.1 General Activities

Activities defined in the general definition that apply to the social science services work stream are those that are primarily involved in:

• the conduct of surveys, studies and projects in the social sciences;
• the identification, description and organization of archival, library, museum and gallery materials;
• the editing of legislation or the provision of advice on legal problems in specific fields.

2.2 Types of work included in the EC group definition for the Social Science Services Work Stream

These activities are further refined by inclusion statements #1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 that map to the social science services stream. They must be read in conjunction with the general group definition and link to that work context. Positions have responsibility for one or more of the following activities:

Inclusion 1:

the conduct of surveys, studies, projects and tests requiring a practical knowledge of a specialized field such as economics, history, law or psychology and requiring the development of specialized techniques and procedures, or the development and use of related processing applications, or the interpretation of findings;

Inclusion 2:

the identification, description, classification, organization and location of archival, gallery, library or museum materials; or the creation, manipulation, verification, analysis and transmission of descriptive records pertaining to such materials, both of with require a practical knowledge of the subject matter;

Inclusion 3:

the editing of legislation or the conduct of studies in matters such as land conveyancing, expropriation, litigation and labour relations requiring a practical knowledge of the specific legal area to interpret findings or prepare submissions;

Inclusion 4:

the application of a practical knowledge of a specialized field such as economics, history, law or psychology to the use and modification or adaptation of computer systems, utilities or software; and/or

Inclusion 8:

the leadership of any of the above activities.

2.3 Types of work excluded from the EC group definition for the Social Science Services Work Stream

The following types of work are excluded from the Social Science Services work stream of the EC group definition by the EC group definition exclusion statements:

Data Processing

Positions involved primarily in the operation, scheduling or controlling of the operations of electronic equipment used in the processing of data for the purpose of reporting, storing, extracting and comparing information or for solving formulated problems according to prescribed plans are excluded from the EC group under exclusion #1. Such activities are allocated to the PA group and map to the Data Processing (DA) classification under inclusion 1(a) of the PA group definition.

Clerical and Regulatory

Positions involved primarily in the collecting, recording, arranging, transmitting and processing of information, the filing and distribution of information holdings, and the direct application of rules and regulations are excluded from the EC group under exclusion #2. Such activities are allocated to the PA group and map to the Clerical and Regulatory (CR) classification under inclusion 1(d) of the PA group definition.

2.4 Examples of Work in the Social Science Services Work Stream

Based on NOC assignments in the Position Classification Information System (PCIS), the majority of positions in this EC work stream are coded: Statistical Officers and Related Research Support Occupations - 1254; Library and Public Archive technicians - 5211; and Paralegal and related occupations - 4211.

3.1 Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis

Many positions require some research and analysis using qualitative and quantitative information; however, careful consideration of the nature and purpose of the information and the work context within which this analysis is performed is required.

For allocation to the EC group, the analysis of qualitative and quantitative information must be for the development, analysis and interpretation of socio-economic policy and/or to conduct socio-economic or statistical research as a basis for the development of such policies. Further, this analysis requires the application of a comprehensive knowledge of economics, sociology or statistics.

3.2 Policy Development

Policy development is an activity specified in inclusion statements in numerous occupational group definitions. Allocation depends on the primary purpose of the work which in turn links back to the organizational context of the position and its mandate. For example, policy development work can be found in the context of such occupational groups as: Foreign Service (FS classification), Program and Administrative Services (AS and PM classifications), Audit, Commerce and Purchasing CO and PG classifications), Human Resources Management (PE classification), and Financial Management (FI classification).

For allocation to the EC group, policy development activities require the application of a comprehensive knowledge of economics, sociology or statistics for the development of socio-economic policy.

3.3 Program Evaluation

Program Evaluation functions, defined and mandated by the Treasury Board Secretariat's Policy on Evaluation, are located in the Evaluation Directorate of a department, which normally reports to the deputy head. Evaluation plays a key role in supporting government commitments for ensuring the value for money of its programs and is led by federal department and agency deputy heads. It supports policy and program improvement, expenditure management, proposals to Cabinet and public reporting.

Evaluation, as described in the Policy on Evaluation, is "the systematic collection and analysis of evidence on the outcomes of programs to make judgements about their relevance, performance and alternative ways to deliver them or to achieve the same results."

Positions that have as their primary purpose the research, analysis and evaluation of the economic or sociological effects of departmental or interdepartmental projects, programs and policies are allocated to the EC group as meeting the general group definition and inclusion statement #5 of the EC group definition.

Careful consideration of the primary purpose of the work should be given to hybrid situations for positions where evaluation and internal audit work is combined in job descriptions within departmental Audit and Evaluation organizations. Comprehensive internal audit work is allocated to the PA group per inclusion #6 of the PA group definition and classified with the AS job evaluation standard.