Book Description

This report covers the proceedings of the expert group meeting on innovative techniques that are used for population censuses and large-scale demographic surveys. The four chapters focus on presentations by resource persons and technical experts, innovative computer methods, new topics to be included in future censuses and surveys, and recommendations in general and for computer-related issues. The appendices provide the meeting agenda, list of participants, and papers presented at session 1, 2, and 3. Session 1 discussants focused on future censuses, innovative techniques used in 1990, data processing in China in 1990, Hong Kong's 1996 Census, the Seychelles' example of enumeration versus updates of population registers, the software of the US Census Bureau, and the case of Netherlands without a census. Countries were urged to develop national integrated information systems that could offer an alternative to nonresponses. Censuses should be developed at all levels to serve as a basis for sampling frames. Quality norms and controls are needed. Post-enumeration surveys are useful for assessing data quality, as are other field checks by canvassers. It is recommended for speed of data processing that a core questionnaire be used for the total population and a detailed one for a sample population. There should be permanent census offices. Experiences should be documented in a journal. The US Census Design System for the year 2000 will be available on the Internet. Aerial photography was useful for a 1996 census in Hong Kong for counting boat people. Session 2 focused on Dutch computer methods that provide a broad base of access on CD-ROMs and on-line computer services, individual confidentiality, and storage in databases with a logical structure and easy tools for graphing and mapping. Session 3 discussed, among other issues, that the contents and scope should meet the needs of local policy makers and planners and, to a lesser degree, donors.