Sampling Frames and
Sample Design
Pres. 5
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Sample Frames & Sample Design
Frames: Material from which a sample is
drawn
Each unit to be included in the universe
There should be no duplicates
Each unit should be well defined and
distinguishable from other units (it should
be unique)
Should be updated
For PES first stage units PSUs, in many
countries area clusters
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Characteristics of Good Area PSUs
 Boundaries well delineated with clear physical boundaries
 They should be mapped
 Must cover the whole country
 Preferably should have some measures of size (MOS)
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Sample Size
Sample size depends on estimate requirements
Geographic level (national, province, urban/rural)
Demographic (sex, age)
Reliability
Confidence level
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Importance of Stratification
 Population subdivided into heterogeneous groups that are
internally homogenous
 Stratification based on variables correlated with the extent
of coverage-geopolitical subdivisions
 Internal homogeneity can be maintained with regard to
socio-demographic variables e.g. urban stratum
 Common strata may include: rural, urban, provinces etc.
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Sampling Strategies
 Probability household surveys
 It is usual to make inferences in a PES for a number of
analytical domains
 Relatively large samples necessary in each domain for
reliable estimates
 Stratified cluster sample design-common
 First-stage units–area clusters/EAs
 PPS systematic sample selection
 Second-stage, common to canvass all persons in selected
households
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Why Multi-stage Cluster Sampling?
 Reduces travel and other costs related to data collection
 Strategy can improve supervision
 Construction of frame cascading in stages, therefore,
cheaper
 Matching operations more efficient
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009
Thank You!
United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing
Censuses: Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Surveys, Asunción, Paraguay, 3-7 August 2009