SOURCES OF DEMOGRAPHICS DATA - Essay Example

? 3 Key Sources of Demographics Data Insert Insert Grade Insert Insert Introduction Demographic data are irrefutable numbers of a group statistically figured to reflect a particular finding. As it were, demographics have a wide area of applications in everyday life. Its uses range from identifying scientific subsets within a particular populace, which depict a reflection of the total number of population or any other empirical finding at a given period of time. The time frame is usually dependent on the type of research being conducted. There are common examples of demographic data that are usually scrutinized. Among them relate to gender, opinion polls, ethnicity employment status of the youth, women and men, housing census, among others. When analyzing demographic data, it is important to observe the changing trends in the demographics that are analyzed. Demographic trends are chronological changes in the way demographics change with time. For example, looking at the change in population with respect to time, it can be deduced that population has a tendency of increasing or decreasing; taking time as a determinant. The major sources of demographics data include household sample surveys, administrative data records and housing census conducted within a specified duration in a given place. These types of demographic analysis can be conducted using various types of research methods. The essay will therefore act as focal point through which analysis of the methodological strengths and weaknesses will be reflected. The above sources supplement each other in integrated schemes that help in the overall production of the final analysis. Looking at each of the examples of the sources of the demographic data stated above, the discussion is going to aim at the provision of a complete research examples together with their methodological strength and weaknesses of the data sources considering the data collection methods, sampling and survey instruments used. Finally, the paper will tackle how some of these methodological weaknesses affect research result considering that there are barriers that are likely to hamper free data collection (Biemer & Lyberg, 2003). Household data source and its methodological strengths and weaknesses The first demographic data sampling is household survey sampling. Household survey sampling involves collecting data from the social phenomena perspective. It is regarded as one of the most preferred sources of data collection since virtually all the data collections based on any particular subject can be done through it. Household sample survey works on the theory that a given portion of the total population or sample is taken as a representative of the entire item after which inferences are made based on evidence of reason. This has seen many countries adopting this technique of data collection since it is very simple and convenient to use especially where it involves the two main types of sampling techniques such as the ad hoc and the periodic surveys, which allow for consistency in statistical data sampling. However, this method of data collection has a limitation in that it is time consuming and therefore cannot be used to collect data which requires a matter of urgency. The types of research that are suitable for the above method of data collection are numerous, some which are qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative method involves engaging in measurement based on quantity or amount of samples taken for verification as a representative of the whole. It is mostly applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Qualitative research, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with quality phenomena for instance the one which relate to quality or kind. The aim of this type of research method is to establish the underlying motives of mankind considering the difference in biological and social aspect of people. It is usually important especially when trying to analyze the behavioral sciences regarding human nature. Though this methodology is reliable because of its accuracy, it is unreliable for sample data measurement with regard to central tendencies because it is time consuming. Again, it can potentially affect the result since it is subject to bias especially when stratified random sampling is highly ignored. This can be witnessed in a situation where samples are taken from gender basis and there are overrepresentations or under representations of elements within the data. This type of research can also help in determining or seeking people’s opinions or attitude towards a subject matter. Techniques of this kind of research methodology involve word association tests or projective techniques. However, household data sampling techniques can also apply longitudinal or one time research. Longitudinal research involves consistent conduction of research over a given period of time usually long and is conducted subsequently to meet the consistent outcome. On the other hand, one time research involves conduction of research within a single time frame to prove a given hypothesis. Housing and census data source and its methodological strengths and weaknesses Housing census is another category of demographic data, which majorly involves trying to find out the statistical data of social groups, people, families and economic demographics of persons within a selected region. It applies the process of trying to evaluate, gather and spread data relating to a particular group under study for a given period of time. It is also widely used since it helps in providing coverage to a small geographical distribution. Some of the statistics that can be verified using this technique is a case that involves trying to find out the crime rate within a given period of time, rate at which life expectancy of people from a given geographical location shifts and perhaps household expenditure within a specified period. Research that can be conducted based on the above technique is the descriptive and analytical research method. Descriptive research involves the use of descriptions of events and sample data as they appear at the moment and involve considering comparative together with correlational methods. This is contrary to analytical method where the researcher has to use the primary elementary result in order to make critical deduction of the real situation. The method has some disadvantages in that samples of materials or people taken as samples may not provide accurate result. For instance, where mass observation is involved respondents may be reluctant to provide the correct information needed and sometimes may exaggerate information in order to please the interviewer. This can also affect the final result since the one giving the final outcome may distort part or whole of the information gathered in order to suite his need. Administrative data source and its methodological strengths and weaknesses The final demographic data analysis method refers to the administrative data. This can be defined as the process through which data is collected by looking at records in institutions like hospitals, employment statistics and even statistics gathered from education systems. Such statistics are gathered from records mostly kept from time to time by the administrative department. This methodological approach, however, has some limitations since data collected depends on the accuracy of the recorded data, which in most cases are subject to distortion (Ambler et al., 2001). Conclusion In conducting research, a researcher should be adept with all the knowledge necessary for conducting the research. Some of the knowledge can be learned prior by looking at historical background of materials under study. This is done in order to avoid a situation where one runs out of resources required to facilitate that particular research. References Ambler, R et al. (2001). Combining unemployment benefits data and LFS to estimate ILO Unemployment for small areas: An application of modified Fay-Herriot method, Invited paper, International Statistical Institute, 34th Session, Seoul. Biemer, P.P. & Lyberg, L. E. (2003). Introduction to Survey Quality. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Read More