data collection- problems

Question 1

8 problems with data collection

Answer 1

Language barriers

Literacy levels

Size of the population

Inaccessibility

Wars/civil wars

Cost

Migration

Homelessness

Question 2

language barriers

Answer 2

Countries with many official languages have to translate their census forms and employ enumerators who can speak multiple languages.

For example, Nigeria has six major languages and hundreds of unofficial languages requiring more enumerators.

Question 3

literacy levels

Answer 3

Many people can’t read and write, and therefore are unable to complete the forms, or might make mistakes unintentionally.

Question 4

size of population

Answer 4

The sheer size of some populations make it very difficult to conduct a census, eg in China and India.

Question 4

inaccessibility

Answer 4

The poor infrastructure and difficult terrain, for example in the Amazon Rainforest, may make it difficult for enumerators to distribute census forms.

Question 5

wars/ civil wars

Answer 5

Conflict can make it too dangerous for enumerators to enter, or for data to quickly become dated.

Question 6

cost

Answer 6

Undertaking the census is a very expensive process, even for developed world countries.

In developing countries, there may be higher priorities for spending, including housing, education and health care.

Question 7

homelessness

Answer 7

Many people in developing countries may be living in shanty towns, eg Dhararvi, or are homeless, so have no official address making it difficult to count them.

Question 8

migration

Answer 8

Rapid rural to urban migration, can make it difficult to gather accurate population data as data will become outdated very quickly.