| A - |
|
| Accuracy (in sampling) |
The closeness of a sample estimate to the true
population value. |
| Approximate |
Almost correct, but not completely so. |
| Arithmetic mean |
See mean. |
| Assumption |
Thing accepted as true or as sure to happen, but not
proved. |
| |
|
| Bias |
The systematic difference in collected statistical data
from the actual characteristic(s) of the target population. Sources of
bias are the sample frame, sample selection, respondents and data
processing. |
| - C - |
|
| Case study |
An enquiry in which a small number of study units are
investigated in great detail. Usually – but not necessarily – the
study units are selected purposively. |
| Census |
An investigation which covers individually every unit in
the population being studied. |
| Classification |
The set of codes used to assign a response to a
particular category. |
| Closed question |
A question which has a number of pre- specified response
categories. |
| Coding |
The values assigned to collected data so that it is
arranged into classes according to specified characteristics. |
| Computer hardware |
The physical components of a computer system. |
| Computer software |
A general term used to describe the set of instructions
given to a computer to perform operations or applications used to perform
operations. |
| Consumer |
A person who uses goods and services. A person who
purchases goods and services. |
| Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
A measure of the average change of prices of goods and
services bought by households. |
| Cost of living index |
An index measuring the change in the cost preserving a
particular standard of living. Such an index would take account of changes
in the mode of living as well as price changes. The term is frequently,
but incorrectly, used to describe the CPI. |
| Coverage |
See survey population. |
| CPI coverage |
The definition of CPI in terms of goods and services
represented, and of the population group and geographic areas to which it
relates. |
| - D - |
|
| Data entry |
A part of data processing where the responses from
questionnaires (or the coded responses) are entered into a computer. |
| Data items |
The items of information collected. |
| Debriefing |
A discussion reviewing the tasks and activities
undertaken. The debrief is usually conducted by senior staff and reviews
the instructions, information and advice given to staff as well as their
experiences in conducting the tasks and duties assigned to them. See also
briefing. |
| Descriptive statistics |
The compilation and presentation of data in tables,
graphs and diagrams. |
| - E - |
|
| Edits |
The checks that are made to ensure the correctness of
the data. |
| Enumerate |
To count. |
| Enumerator |
A person employed to count (and usually to collect
data). |
| Estimate |
An approximate calculation. |
| - F - |
|
| Field edits |
The checks that are made to ensure the correctness of
the data collected from respondents. |
| Field staff |
Enumerators, field supervisors, managers and any other
people recruited to collect data from respondents. |
| Fieldwork |
The process of collecting data from respondents. |
| Filter |
A mechanism (or operation in computers) that allows only
certain things to pass. |
| Formulate |
Create something in a precise form, express clearly and
exactly. |
| Frame (listing or register) |
A list of statistical units (people, groups of people,
businesses). |
| - G - |
|
| Gantt Chart |
A matrix of activities and time used to plan, manage and
monitor a project. |
| Goods |
Physical items, as distinct from services. |
| - H - |
|
| Hardware |
See computer hardware. |
| Histogram |
A graphical presentation of data by the areas of
rectangular blocks, arranged in vertical or horizontal columns. |
| Household income and expenditure survey
(HIES) |
A survey conducted to determine the income and
expenditure patterns of private households. An important source of data
for the weighting pattern of a CPI. |
| Hypothesis |
An Idea or suggestion that is based on known facts and
is used as a basis for reasoning or further inquisition. Hypothetical,
based on a hypothesis, not necessarily true or real. |
| - I - |
|
| Index |
In mathematics a number scale by means of which levels
can be compared with some base value, usually over time. |
| Inference |
Drawing conclusions about a population on the basis of
evidence obtained from a sample. |
| - J - |
|
| Jargon |
Technical or specialised words used by a particular
group of people but difficult for others to understand eg.
inter-penetrating subsamples. Should be avoided as much as possible. |
| - K - |
|
| Kurtosis |
Kurtosis (the term first used by
Pearson, 1905) measures the "peakedness" of a distribution. If
the kurtosis is clearly different than 0, then the distribution is either
flatter or more peaked than normal; the kurtosis of the normal
distribution is 0. |
| - L - |
|
| Listing |
See frame. |
| Logic edits |
Verify the correctness of a particular response using
the response(s) to other queries. Eg. children cannot be older than their
parents. See also edits. |
| - M - |
|
| Matched sample |
The use of the same sample of items (or respondents) in
successive periods. |
| Mathematical statistics |
The tools of statistics, the methods used to analyse
statistical data and to make estimates or draw conclusions from
statistical data. |
| Mean |
(arithmetic mean) The average value of a number of
observations, calculated by dividing their sum by the total number of
observations. |
| Median |
The value of the middle item in an ordered set of data.
Fifty percent of observations lie above and fifty percent below the
median. |
| Mode |
The data value which occurs with the highest frequency. |
| Monitor |
To keep check of something, to make continuous
observations of something. |
| - N - |
|
| Non-sampling error |
That part of the error in a statistical collection other
than the error introduced by only collecting sample data, i.e. ambiguous
phrasing of questions and enumerator error in recording respondents’
answers. |
| Numerical |
Expressed in or representing numbers. |
| - O - |
|
| Open question |
A question which does not have a range of pre-specified
responses, i.e. respondents can answer as they wish. |
| - P - |
|
| Percentage change |
The change in an index series from one period to another
expressed as a percentage of its value. |
| Pilot survey |
(or pre-test, or dress rehearsal) A practice or trial
run of the methods and procedures to be used for the whole survey. |
| Population |
The entirety of a defined set of units, eg. the total
human population of a village or a state, the total number of plants in a
field, the total number of children enrolled at primary schools in a
province, etc. |
| Probability sampling |
Sampling in which every individual has a known
probability of selection. |
| Proportion |
The number of units possessing some characteristic,
divided by the total number of units with or without that characteristic. |
| Proxy respondent |
A respondent who answers questions on behalf of the
intended respondent. |
| Purposive sampling |
A type of sampling in which the selected units are
chosen not by chance but deliberately – in order to include units with
particular characteristics, or for reasons of convenience. |
| - Q - |
|
| Quality control |
The process of keeping the standard of outputs within
acceptable limits of error. |
| - R - |
|
| Random |
Without conscious choice. |
| random numbers |
Numbers selected at random, that is, selected without
conscious choice. |
| random sampling |
Sampling in which every individual is selected at
random. |
| Range |
The difference between the highest and lowest values in
a data set. |
| Ratio |
One number or variable divided by another. |
| Recall period |
The length of time into the past for which a respondent
is asked to recall information. |
| Reference period |
The period for which a respondent is asked to give
information about events occurring within it. |
| Register |
See frame. |
| Reliable |
Good quality, dependable. |
| Representative |
Typical of a group, or kind. |
| Respondents |
Individuals, businesses, authorities, etc. from which
data are collected. |
| Respondent burden |
The trouble or inconvenience to a respondent of being
included in a survey. |
| - S - |
|
| Sample (of goods or outlets) |
A representative selection of goods and services to be
priced, or of retail outlets from which to collect prices. |
| Sample estimates |
The estimated measures of population values (means,
totals etc) achieved by performing computations on the sample data. |
| Sample population |
See survey population. |
| Sample survey |
A data collection which collects data from a subset of
units in the population being studied. |
| Sampling error |
That part of the difference between a sample estimate
and the true population value (derived from a census) which arises because
of estimating from a sample rather than from the whole population. It
represents the uncertainty due to sampling. |
| Sampling frame |
A list of ordered arrangements of all the units in the
population, which is used for selecting a sample. |
| Sampling unit |
The type of unit or element selected in a sample, and
which is then the unit to be measured, observed or interviewed. |
| Sampling without replacement |
A type of sampling in which, when a unit has been
selected for the sample, it is removed from the pool of units for
selection and cannot be chosen again. |
| Scope |
See target population. |
| Self-weighting sample |
A type of sample in which all units have an equal chance
of being selected, so the sample values do not need to be weighted to
compensate for different probabilities of selection. |
| Standard error |
A measure of the precision of an estimate. |
| Statistical data |
The values observed in collecting information. |
| Statistical method |
The collection, analysis and interpretation of
statistical data. |
| Statistical table |
A matrix (rows and columns) used to arrange and present
statistical data. |
| Statistical unit |
A person, group of persons or things about which we
collect information or make observations. The individual items in a
population about which we want to collect information. |
| Statistics |
Numbers that are systematically collected and analysed.
Also the science or skill of dealing with statistical data. |
| Standardise |
To make something conform to a fixed standard. |
| Stratification |
The division of the population into sub-populations,
which are then sampled independently. |
| Survey population |
(or coverage) The set of statistical units information
is collected from. |
| Survey proposal |
A document which contains the objectives of the
statistical survey, its main concepts and the methods to be used. |
| - T - |
|
| Table |
See statistical table. |
| Tabulate |
To arrange figures in the form of a statistical table. |
| Target population |
(or scope) the group of statistical units we ideally
want to collect information from. |
| - U - |
|
| Unit of study |
An entity or event defined to be the subject for the
collection of data. Commonly a household or a person, or an event such as
a market transaction. |
| Urban households |
Households in the townships. |
| - V - |
|
| Verify |
Check that something is correct. |
| - W - |
|
| Weight |
The measure of the relative importance of an item in the
index regimen. |
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