Summary
This session describes how data from population-based surveys can be used to obtain demographic data. It illustrates how these survey data can be used to construct key demographic measures. The strengths and limitations of these data are discussed. Population based surveys provide rapid and comprehensive information on many of the key demographic measures. Rich data on the background characteristics of survey respondents enables stratified analysis of demographic trends.
These self-reported data are vulnerable to reporting errors and to reporting bias, particularly concerning sensitive subjects. Recall of dates may be poor in some populations leading to inaccurate reports. Special attention to these problems during data collection can minimise the impact of poor reporting. Problems such as missing data and heaping of date or age reports can be mitigated, though not corrected, during data analysis.
In general, more detailed questionnaires enable better estimates of measures of mortality and fertility. Adequate measures can be constructed based on a few key questions. The inclusion of birth histories provides the best data for fertility measures but is more time consuming to collect. Likewise mortality is best estimated from complete survival histories, whether of births or other relatives.