Population Studies

MSc. Sociology
Course Code 4683
Resource Person :Miss Zaitoon BiBi
PhD Sociology ( Scholar)
Email: Zara.khan94@ymail.com
Contact ; 0347-5781331
• What is Population Data in Research?
A population is a fundamental aspect of our existence. Population data is
defined as a set of individuals who share a characteristic or set of these. A
population is mainly determined by geographies, such as all people in
California, or all people in the United States. Demographers (people who
study human populations) categorize this as the natural population. A
collection of any living beings is considered a population, but we will focus
only on human populations in this blog.

Geography is one of the many ways in which the population is defined and
analyzed. The era, political inclinations, religious beliefs, or physical
characteristics are ways of dividing people into different communities. The
study of populations is achieved by examining these diverse populations and
observing where they coincide.
• Why is
Accurate
Population
Data
Necessary?
Critical decisions for a nation,
organization, or family are made
based on population data. Population
data contains various influential
details such as birth, death,
demographic information such as age,
sex, annual income, occupation,
language, etc. The overall socio-
economic, economic, political,
cultural progress of a country is
dependent on population data to a
large extent.
• Characteristics of Population Data
• The amount of people in the population is not all that
can be known about these. There are also data such as:
• Age: The age of a population can tell us a lot about
what that population is doing and what it is going to do
in the future.
• Location: Finding out where people live is one of the
main reasons why various countries conduct their
census. Many government programs also base their
funds on demographic patterns. The location data also
inform us about the movement of people.
• Race: The demographic study of the breed is very
controversial. Scientifically, there are no different
“races” of human beings. The difference between
Asians and blacks is the same as the difference between
people with brown eyes and blue eyes. However, the
idea of race continues to play an essential role in our
societies. Many of us identify ourselves as part of a
certain race for cultural reasons.
• Socio-economic Data: They help us know the type of
concentrations of people in some urban regions or the
high concentrations of people with cancer near certain
industrial zones.
Human Population Data Classification and
Estimation
• There are two primary classifications of population data:
Primary population data collection sources: Data
collected directly by a researcher or statistician or a
government body via sources such as census, sample
survey, etc. are called primary population data collection.
Secondary Population Data Collection
Sources: Data obtained from existing sources such as
journals, newspapers, magazines, annual research
reports, etc. and not directly by a government or a
research organization is called secondary population data
collection.
• The below-mentioned resources are the most used for
human population data classification.
• Census: The simplest, yet not the most accurate or
useful way to evaluate population is counting everyone.
This is known as a census and is usually done by
governments. In the past, religious organizations carried
out censuses, but generally at a local or regional level.
The Roman Empire carried out censuses to estimate the
group of men of military age and for tax purposes, but
these were limited since the Romans had to report with
the government officials in their hometown to be
counted. Poor people or those who could not travel were
rarely counted.
A census is sometimes referred to as a complete enumeration. Each
person is counted by personal interviews, surveys, or any other
type of interview. There are no estimates.
Even a complete census has limits. In countries with very remote
areas, it may be impossible for census takers to count everyone.
There are two ways of conducting census:
• De facto method: When the census is conducted at an
individual’s current residence, it is known as the de facto method.
Generally, this census is carried out at night, and thus, it is also
known as ‘one- night enumeration.’ It is conducted in urban
regions in a country with high income.
• De jure method: When the census is conducted at a person’s
permanent residence, it is known as the de jure method.
Compared to de facto, it is more practical and scientific and is also
called ‘period enumeration.’ Nepal is one of the very few countries
which follow this method.
• Census has a list of the following attributes:
• Geographic segmentation attributes include current
residence, permanent residence, place of birth,
workplace information, etc.
• Personal and demographic details such as age, sex,
marital status, literacy, language spoken at home, the
number of people residing at home, etc.
• Information on an individual’s economic background,
such as occupation, the current status of employment,
primary source of income, etc.
 Sample Surveys:

 Sample: representative portion of the population.

 Sample Survey: A sample survey is a study that obtain data from a

subset of the population in order to estimate population attributes.


• Sample Surveys: An alternative to a full enumeration
census is a sampling. You might be familiar with this as the
method that market research companies and political analysts
use to conduct their research. Statisticians use a mathematical
formula to know the minimum number of people needed to
constitute a population’s representative sample. For example,
if the total population is 1,000 people, researchers could
directly survey 150 of them. Then, they can take the data
from the sample and extrapolate it to the entire population. If
10% of the sample people are left-handed, it can be assumed
that 100 of a population of 1,000 are left-handed.
• Administrative Records: The collection of population data
from places that do not carry out censuses or historical
periods where censuses were not common is achieved by
gathering all available demographic information in
administrative records. There could be partial censuses, data
from the local population, or information collected by
religious or civic groups. Examining birth and death records
provides other clues.
Administrative Records Examples Includes
•Health statistics counted from hospital records.
•Employment statistics from employment exchange services.
•Vital statistics compiled from the civil registration system.
•Education statistics from enrolment reports of the ministry of
education.
Vital Registration
 Vital registration is a regular and continuous registration
of vital events.

 Its records vital statistics (birth certificate, death

certificate, marriage, divorce, abortion events etc.)

 In developing countries, vital registration systems are not

properly measure because their economical limitation.
Control of the Population
• What happens when we reach the load capacity in an area?
There are several options:
• People move to another area.
• People are less healthy, therefore, less able to reproduce.
• The pressure of the population leads to war.
• Unsanitary conditions and proximity cause outbreaks of
disease.
• We optimize the generation of resources and infrastructure,
increasing the load capacity.
• Humans are also able to control their populations voluntarily.
This can occur on a large scale, such as a program or
government law or individual level.
for Example, the Chinese
government, controlled the
increase in population by
imposing penalties for
having too many children.
This way, having fewer
children seems more
convenient, which leads to
more people sterilizing
themselves. Unfortunately,
some governments have
adopted genocide, i.e.,
have tried to reduce or
eliminate specific
populations that they
Tools Of Data Collection
 It is the process by which
the researcher collects the
information needed to
answer the research
problem.

 The task of data collection

begins after a research
problem has been defined
and research design
transcribed out.
• In collecting the data, the
researcher must decide:
Which data to collect?
How to collect the Data?
Who will collect the Data?
When to collect the Data?
• Collection of Primary Data Of the above, the important
ones are
• 1. Observation Method
• 2. Interview Method
• 3. Questionnaires
• 4. Schedule
• 1.Observation Method Observation method is a method under
which data from the field is collected with the help of observation by
the observer or by personally going to the field.
• In the words of P.V Young “Observation may be defined as systematic
viewing, coupled with consideration of seen phenomenon”.

• Steps
a) For An Effective Observation Determine what needs to be observed
b) Select participants Random/Selected Conduct the observation
(venue, duration, recording materials, take photographs )
c) Compile data collected Analyze and
d) Interpret data collected.
Classification-1:-
Structured Observation When the observation is characterized by a careful
definition of the units to be observed, the style of recording the observed
information, standardized conditions of observation and the selection of
related data of observation.
Unstructured Observation When it takes place without the above
characteristics.

Classification-2:-
Participant Observation When the observer is member of the group which
he is observing then it is Participant Observation.
Non-Participant Observation When observer is observing people without
giving any information to them then it is Nonparticipant Observation
• Classification-3 :-
Uncontrolled Observation When the observation takes place in natural
condition i.e., uncontrolled observation. It is done to get spontaneous
picture of life and persons.
Controlled Observation When observation takes place according to
prearranged plans, with experimental procedure then it is controlled
observation generally done in laboratory under controlled condition.
Advantages of Observation
• Produces Large quantities of data.
• All data obtained from observations are usable.
• The observation technique can be stopped or begun at any time.
• Relatively Inexpensive.
Disadvantages of observation
• Interviewing selected subjects may provide more information,
economically, than waiting for the spontaneous occurrence of the
situation.
• It is expensive method
• Limited information.
• Extensive Training is needed
2.Interview Method
• The Interview Method of collecting data involves presentation of oral-
verbal stimuli and reply in terms of oral- verbal responses.
• Interviewer asks questions (which are aimed to get information
required for study) to respondent.
Steps For An Effective Interview
i. Prepare interview schedule
ii. Select subjects/ key Respondent
iii. Conduct the interview Analyze and
iv. interpret data collected from the int
• Classifications:-
• Structured Interviews : In this case, a set of redecided questions are
there.
• Unstructured Interviews : In this case, we don’t follow a system of
pre-determined questions.
• Focused Interviews : Attention is focused on the given experience of
the respondent and its possible effects.
• Clinical Interviews : Concerned with broad underlying feelings or
motivations or with the course of an individual’s life experience.
• Group Interviews : a group of 6 to 8 individuals is interviewed. 
• Qualitative and quantitative Interviews : divided based on subject
matter i.e., whether qualitative or quantitative.
• Individual Interviews : Interviewer meets a single person and
interviews him.
• Selection Interviews : Done for selection of people for certain Jobs
• Advantages:-
• More information at greater depth can be obtained
• Resistance may be overcome by a skilled interviewer
• Personal information can be obtained
Disadvantages:-
• It is an expensive Method
• Interviewer bias
• Respondent bias
• Time consuming
3.Questionnaires
• A Questionnaire is sent ( by post or by mail ) to the persons concerned
with a request to answer the questions and return the Questionnaire.
• A Questionnaire consists of several questions printed in a definite order
on a form.
Steps For An Effective Questionnaire
• Prepare questions (Formulate & choose types of questions, order them,
write instructions, make copies)
• Select your respondents Random/Selected Administer the questionnaire
(date, venue, time )
• Tabulate data collected Analyze and
• Interpret data collected
Classifications:-
• Open-ended questions This gives the respondents the ability to
respond in their own words.
• Close-ended or fixed alternative questions This allows the
respondents to choose one of the given alternatives.
Essentials of Good Questionnaire
Should be short and simple
Follow a sequence of questions from easy to difficult one
Technical terms should be avoided
Should provide adequate space for answers in questionnaire
directions regarding the filling of questionnaire should be given
Physical Appearance – Quality of paper, Color
 Sequence must be clear
Advantages:-
a) Low cost –even when the universe is large and is widespread
b) Free from interviewer bias
c) Respondents have adequate time to think through the answers.
d) Respondents who are not easily approachable, can also be reached
conveniently.
e) Large samples can be used.

Disadvantages:-
a) Time consuming
b) The respondents need to be educated and cooperative
c) This method is slow
d) Possibility of unclear replies