Post Enumeration Surveys - Operational Guidelines

Countries have frequently encountered problems in implementing census evaluation methods, and especially in designing and implementation post enumeration surveys. In that regard, they have urged the United Nations Statistics Division to prepare guidelines on the design and implementation of Post Enumeration Surveys. In that context, the United Nations Statistics Division organized in 2009 and 2010 a series of workshops in different regions of the world. The objectives of these workshops were to present an overview of the various methods of evaluating censuses with a focus on the post enumeration survey (PES) methodology.

The present manual was developed to serve as a reference document for these workshops, as well as to provide operational guidelines for the preparation and implementation of a post enumeration survey. It defines the PES and enumerates its objectives. In addition, the manual covers elements of: sample design; questionnaire design; planning and implementation of a PES; matching; field reconciliation; the Dual System of Estimation (DSE); tabulations; the evaluation of content error. The conclusion highlights the usefulness of a PES and care that must be taken in its implementation. It additionally, presents challenges associated to a successful implementation of the PES and how they can be mitigated.