Statistical Survey — Meaning and Steps (Stages)

A statistical survey (or statistical enquiry / investigation) is the complete, organised process of collecting, organising, analysing and interpreting numerical data relating to a particular problem for a definite purpose. It is the practical procedure through which a statistical study is actually carried out from start to finish. A survey is broadly divided into two big phases — the planning stage (deciding what and how) and the execution stage (actually doing it) — and within these it proceeds through the following ordered steps.

Stage A — Planning the survey

1. Defining the objective (purpose) of the enquiry. The very first step is to state clearly why the survey is being conducted and what problem it must answer, because every later decision depends on the purpose (§3's sixth characteristic — a predetermined purpose — applied in practice).
2. Defining the scope of the enquiry. Fix the coverage: the geographical area, the time period, the type of items or persons (the field), and the specific characteristics (variables) to be studied.
3. Deciding the sources of data. Decide whether the data will be collected afresh (primary data) or taken from already-existing records (secondary data), or a combination of both. (These sources are studied fully in the next chapter.)
4. Choosing the method of enquiry — census or sample. Decide whether every unit of the field will be studied (a census / complete enumeration) or only a representative part of it (a sample survey). A census is more complete but costly and slow; a sample is cheaper and faster but carries sampling error.
5. Selecting the technique of data collection and designing the questionnaire/schedule. Choose how the data will actually be gathered (direct interview, mailed questionnaire, enumerators, telephone, etc.) and design the questionnaire or schedule to be used.
6. Deciding the degree of accuracy required and organising the survey. Fix an acceptable level of accuracy in advance (perfect accuracy is impossible and unnecessary), and organise the staff, budget, timetable and units of measurement.

Stage B — Executing the survey

7. Collection of data. The actual field work — gathering the raw data using the chosen technique.

8. Organisation (editing, classification, tabulation) of the data. The collected raw data is edited for errors and omissions, then classified and tabulated into an orderly form (the subject of the next chapter).

9. Presentation of the data. The organised data is presented through tables, diagrams and graphs so that it can be readily understood.

10. Analysis of the data. Statistical techniques — averages, dispersion, correlation, index numbers and so on — are applied to bring out the meaning hidden in the figures. …