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

I. THE COMPREHENSIVE REWIEV OF THE DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING - 4. Notions applied with the population census

In order to test for the completeness as well as to the substitution of the persons omitted (mainly absent people) as well as on correction purposes of the erroneously registered data (codes), a special technique, the so-called method of the "Control sheets" was used. Three notions of the population have been applied: The present populatio

n is the total number of persons present on the spot at the census moment. The permanent populatio

n reflects the data of the persons registered in permanent dwellings in the given territory. The resident populatio

n is composed of two groups, namely - of the group of persons having permanent police registration form on the spot and no temporary dwelling elsewhere; - of the group of persons having temporary police registration form without considering whether they were present or absent at the census moment. The method was experienced at the first time on the occasion of\the micro-census performed in 1968. The distinction made between temporarily present inhabitants and both temporarily and steadily absent people was based on the reason for the absence (or the goal of the absence). Among the steadily absent have been ranked those living elsewhere either for sake of occupational purposes or in order to perform studies, while persons being absent for other reasons (visit, holidays, medical treatment) were included in the category of the temporarily absent. As far as the census of 1970 is concerned, distinction was made only on the basis of the permanent or térmporary police regitration form which rendered the distinction

1 according to the reasons for the absence unnecessary. In order to distinguish between the three kinds of population, the questions no 6., 7. , 8. and 8/a of the inquiry list of individuals have been taken into consideration. According to the answers given, every person could be ranked among the respective categories mentioned by means of the suitable code number. These population categories are the following: The registered person is on the spot at the census moment 1. present, has permanent police registration form in the dwelling and has no other temporary dwelling elsewhere; 2. present, has permanent police registration form and disposes of other dwelling temporarily elsewhere; 3. present, and is temporarily registered in the dwelling; 4. present, but is not temporarily registered by police form in the dwelling; 5. absent, is permanently registered in the dwelling and not even temporarily elsewhere; 6. absent, permanently registered by police form, but has temporary dwelling elsewhere; 7. absent, but is temporarily registered in the dwelling. By means of the code numbers, the three kinds of the population is to be defined in the following manner: 31