Post-enumeration Survey (PES) - Statistics South Africa

Statistics South Africa
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respondent memory lapses do not complicate the exercise. This practice is also a key assumption of the
dual system of estimation.
Plans and methodology documents for the PES incorporated lessons learned during the Census 2011
PES Test that was conducted in 2009 and the Census 2011 Dress Rehearsal (CDR) PES that was
conducted in 2010, which served as pilot studies for refining the methodologies and procedures for
evaluating the census. Inputs and recommendations from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
were incorporated into PES methodology. Activities of the PES included:
• sampling: sample design and selection;
• development of data collection methodologies: methods and procedures for data collection
(publicity, listing and enumeration), including quality control measures applied during data collection;
• development of matching and reconciliation procedures and systems: guidelines for matching,
including rules for determining the match status of households and individuals, as well as computerbased
system for capturing household and person records for matching purposes;
• questionnaire development: selection of data items which allowed measurement of coverage and
content, including layout, design and printing of questionnaire;
• data collection: publicity, listing and enumeration of households in selected enumeration areas
(EAs);
• matching and reconciliation: office matching (comparison) of census and PES household and
person records, and revisits to households in order to confirm or get more information that might
assist in matching unresolved cases; and
• analysis and reporting: compilation of tables and the write-up of PES results.
1.4 Outline of this report
This report describes and discusses the salient features of the Census 2011 PES, including its scope of
coverage, methodology, the information gathered and the key results. Discussion of the survey results
also covers implications for post-censal population estimates. This report is arranged into nine (9)
sections which provide details on the implementation of the PES. The overall methodology is described
in Chapter 2, a description of how fieldwork operations were carried out is given in Chapter 3, and
matching reconciliation operations are explained in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 outlines the procedures used
for measuring coverage and content errors. Chapter 6 provides an analysis of coverage errors for
persons, and Chapter 7 provides analysis of coverage errors for households. Chapter 8 focuses on the
analysis of content errors. Concluding remarks and recommendations for future censuses and surveys
are provided in Chapter 9.
Post Enumeration Survey (PES)