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

I. THE COMPREHENSIVE REWIEV OF THE DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING - 11. The control of the reliability of the census

If the indexes are used not only for general information but we wish to project them to the totality of the population, also the sampling method of the post-enumeration control and the error as well as interval of reliability of the 1/4 percent sample used are to be taken into consideration. The task of the evaluation of the results of the complete processing of the post-enumeration control still remains to be accomplished. The following tables contain the most important results while the accompanying text will emphasize the main findings. As referred to above, the main data were processed manually tentatively because of the delay in machine processing. Hence the data to be demonstrated originate partly from preliminary manual, partly machine processing. The total comparison of the returns of the two censuses in view of absolute and index numbers will be demonstrated only for three characteristic criteria (main age groups, branch of national economy and dwelling size), mainly in order to demonstrate the applied method and properly to evaluate the index-numbers. As far as the further important criteria are concerned, we must be content with giving the index-numbers. The data of the percentage distribution of individual criteria deviate from the census rates contained in publications for several reasons. The main reasons are the following: the post-enumeration survey pertains to the cumulated numbers of the three categories of population and compares the data of only those individuals whose data were available in both operations and can be evaluated. To this the dispersion following from the 0, 25 percent sample is added. d/ EXAMINATION OF THE COMPLETENESS OF THE CENSUS It must be observed by way of introduction that the primary aim of the post-enumeration survey of 1970 was not the examination of completeness but the accuracy of the data collected. Special prescriptions and methods designed to elucidate circumstances would have been necessary for the examination of the completeness expressly. Notwithstanding the census-taker of the second census was charged with the task to record every, observation, uncertainties due to presence and absence, special circumstances in the "Remarks" column of the housing data sheet. These records really contributed to the subsequent evaluation. It is a general phenomenon that persons left out from the census were found by the postenumeration control, while some people registered in the course of the census were not registered in the post-enumeration control. This latter fact may be connected with the later date, changes of place in the meantime too. According to a rough summary, without thorough examination, the post-enumeration control recorded 315 persons missing from the census, in the area units of the sample, 94 in Budapest, 37 in county towns, 54 in other towns and 130 in villages. From among the 94 persons missing in Budapest 12 were not to be registered (e. g. were registered as absent persons without permanent or temporary registration). Accurately 281 persons ought to have been registered all over the country, from among them present persons were 154, i. e. 54,5 percent. Experiences show more uncertainties in connection with absent persons. The post-enumeration control - just like the census - cumulated the various categories of population and thus the missing persons do not affect the three types of numbers. In the course of 98