- Census:
- A census aims to gather data from every member of a population, leaving no one out. It attempts to obtain information from each individual or unit within the entire population.
- Census data provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of the entire population, allowing for detailed analysis and precise estimates of population characteristics.
- Due to the exhaustive nature of a census, it often requires significant resources in terms of time, money, and manpower.
- Census data are particularly useful for government planning, policy-making, resource allocation, and demographic studies.
- Sample Survey:
- A sample survey collects data from a subset or sample of the population, rather than the entire population. The sample is carefully selected to be representative of the larger population.
- Sample surveys are conducted when it is impractical or impossible to collect data from the entire population, or when the cost and resources required for a census are prohibitive.
- By collecting data from a representative sample, sample surveys can provide estimates of population characteristics with a known level of precision and confidence.
- Sample surveys are commonly used in social science research, market research, opinion polls, and public opinion studies.
- Sampling methods vary depending on the research objectives, population characteristics, and available resources. Common sampling techniques include simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling.
while both censuses and sample surveys aim to collect data from populations, they differ in their scope, methodology, and resource requirements. A census provides a complete picture of the entire population but is resource-intensive, while a sample survey collects data from a subset of the population and is more efficient in terms of resources. Both methods play important roles in data collection and analysis, depending on the specific research objectives and constraints.