1970 HUNGARIAN CENSUS OF POPULATION Information on the data collection and processing (1977)

I. THE COMPREHENSIVE REWIEV OF THE DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING - 6. Sampling techniques applied in the census

- presence or absence; permanent or temporary domicile at the census moment; - educational level (secondary and higher); - economic activity; - the denomination of the employer (with employees and members of farmers' agricultural cooperatives); - agricultural labour performed. The details referring to the occupation were not asked on the personal data sheet; only questions as to the economic activity and to the employer were put (in the case of employees and members of farmers' agricultural cooperatives). In these categories, the data concerning the occupation and the scope of activity have been collected directly from the employers using the postal service. More details were asked, however, during the subsequent control concerning the agricultural activity. Among the data referring to the flats, a controlling activity seemed to be highly needful in the case of the floor-space of the rooms and localities which, by the way, was questioned only in the sample of the 25 per cent representativity. The registration form of the dwellings has also included questions as to the year of the construction, the rebuildings and extensions as well as to the enumeration of the persons living in the flat, grouped by households and within the latter, according to families. Prior to the control survey, to each address concerned, a message has been sent asking cooperation, in order to prevent eventual distrust. The employers were also given notice as to the questionaries of the occupational data. The control survey called for the assistance of the employees of the statistical agencies of the counties and districts. Their knowledge and skill warranted for the successful execution of the operation. A proper training was given to the census-takers performing control survey but the original documents of the census were not handed over to them. While the census was based exclusively on data supplied by the person himself, the control survey necessitated the production of the respective documents (mainly the personal identity card). It had to be recorded on the sheets whether the registration took place on the basis of documents produced or by personal avowal. The floor-space of the dwellings, in want of the respective technical documentation, had to be controlled by means of "perambulation" (estimation, measuring). In the meantime, the regional statistical agencies made copies of the respective data of the districts in question as registered in the original documents of the census. The collected material of the control survey was then checked. If the answers given during both registrations had proven divergent, and the data collected in the course of the post-enumeration control survey were not documented, the differences had to be cleared up, if possible, by means of a new visit to the spot. In the case of differences showing themselves in the files of dwellings kept in evidence (year and place of birth, permanent or temporary residence), the accuracy of the data could be eventually elucidated by means of requests addressed to the competent authorities. The data processing took place on electronic computers. The registration forms used during the control survey are shown in the Annex. 55