CENSUS METHOD

Survey may be conducted by Census Method and Sample Method. When the whole area or
population of persons is contacted the method is known as census method. When a small group
is selected as representative of the whole mass it is known as Sampling Method.

Merits of Census Method

1. Data are obtained from each and every unit.

2. Accurate and Reliable
3. Can be exploited as a basis for various surveys.

Demerits

1. The effort, money and time-extremely large.

2. Population is infinite.
3. Exhaustive and intensive study-impossible.

4. Now would be an appropriate time to talk about census versus sampling. As most of you
know here in the United States, the ten year census occurs this year. In past
censuses, there has always been some degree of controversy surrounding this major
undertaking. People who object to a census may point out that their privacy is being
invaded. Others will cite the large expense of a census that must gather so much data
from so many people. Some researchers will counter that using sampling techniques not
only would be much less expensive but can also be more accurate! Regardless, by law
the census is conducted ever ten years.

First, let’s make sure of the terms that we are using. A census is an attempt to
gather information from each and every person of interest – the universe of study
targets. A sample gathers information from only a part or subset of the universe of
possible participants. 

If a researcher has relatively few actual (and potential) customers, let’s say owners
of million dollar yachts, he can afford to take a census – attempt to contact all of
them. However, if the number of customers is in the thousands or millions, a census is
much too expensive and sampling provides a very good alternative. True, a sample is
always only an estimate and is subject to sampling error. But the larger the sample (and
consequently the cost) the more accurate the findings will be. The research can then
determine a mix of cost and accuracy that is acceptable. In addition, samples are not
always less accurate than a census. As discussed in a previous article, both census and
sampling are subject to non-sampling. And in sampling, the researcher can more easily
manage the non-sampling errors of non-response and measurement.