Introduction to Sampling

: Censuses vs.
Sample Surveys

Name- Vanshika
Class- XI(Comm.)

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 Session Objectives
 Distinguish between censuses and sample surveys
 Demonstrate the linkages between censuses and
surveys
 Discuss the challenges of conducting censuses and
large scale surveys in Uganda
 Distinguish between random and non random samples
 Identify the types and/or sources of errors in censuses
and surveys
 Discuss how errors can be minimised in censuses and
surveys
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 Reminder of Definitions
 Population: totality of all units of interest
 Sample: part/subset of the population
 Censuses: inquiries that cover the whole population eg.
Uganda Population and Housing Census, CIS, EMIS, HMIS,
LOGICS, etc
 Sample surveys are inquiries that cover part/subset of the
population eg. UDHS, UNHS, NSDS, etc
 Sampling Frame: list of distinct and distinguishable units in
the population of interest; beginning step in almost all
random sampling schemes, e.g. numbers written on
households before the census night
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Sampling Frames
 Sources
 Administrative records-eg
 Hospital records
 Birth and Death Registers
 LC lists
 Voters’ register
 School registers
 etc
 Construct your own

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Disadvantages of various
sources of sampling frames
 Administrative records may not be up to
date
 Constructing your own may be too costly
especially in large scale surveys

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Role of censuses in Uganda
 Provide benchmark data for monitoring,
planning and policy formulation eg we
need data for
 UPE monitoring,
 poverty monitoring
 Election monitoring
 Resource allocation

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Linkages between censuses
and sample surveys
 Sample surveys can be used as a substitute for
censuses
 Sample surveys can be used to supplement
census data
 Sample surveys can be used to pretest census
materials, procedures and methods
 Censuses are used as a basis for surveys
conducted between censuses
 Sample surveys can be used to monitor census
results
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Challenges of Conducting
Censuses and Large Scale Sample
Surveys
 Challenges of Surveys and Censuses Mubiru James
.ppt

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Types of Samples
 There two types of samples:
 Random and Non random samples

 Random samples are those whose

composition is not influenced by the sampler
 Non Random samples are those whose
composition is influenced by the sampler

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Advantages of Random
Samples
 Objective and hence inferences based on
them are reliable

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Disadvantages of Random
Samples
 Costly to select
 Need skilled manpower to get a random
sample
 For some surveys, random sampling may not
be the best because the sample may not
provide the required data.

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Types of Errors
 There are two types of errors, namely:
 Sampling errors
 Non sampling errors

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Sampling Errors/Biases
 Sampling errors are absent in censuses
 Their causes include:
 Use of defective sampling frame
 Use of defective sampling procedures
 Use of an estimation method that does not
correspond to the sampling design

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Non Sampling Errors
 Non sampling errors occur both in censuses
and sample surveys but are more
pronounced in censuses

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Sources of Non sampling
Errors
 Defective sampling frames resulting into
coverage errors
 Under coverage
 Over coverage
 Conceptual problems
 Physical environment
 Inadequacy of enumerators and supervisors

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Sources continued
 Language problems – translation
 Problems of measurement
 Response problems
 Non response problems
 Poor cartographic work
 Poorly designed questionnaires/instruments
 Poorly trained enumerators/supervisors
 Unqualified enumerators/supervisors
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How Errors can be Minimised
 Supervision
 Training
 Use of the appropriate estimation method
 Publicity of the survey
 Testing the survey instruments

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Sampling in the Research
Process
 Problem
 Objectives
 Hypotheses
 Methodology
 Data Sources
 Target population
 Census or sample?
 If sample?
 What is the sampling design?
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