Data Collection Notes
I. CONDUCT OF PRETESTS AND PILOT CENSUS
In preparation for the actual conduct of the POPCEN 2015, four pretests and a pilot census were conducted in 2014.
PRETESTS:
Pretest 1 - conducted in Rosario, Cavite to test the time devoted to interviewing and in filling-out of the questionnaires, and the wordings and sequence of questions/flow of interview.
Pretest 2 - conducted in Rodriguez, Rizal, to determine the actual interview time in answering the questions revised in CP Forms 1 and 2. Moreover, the pretest also determined the actual time consumed in travelling from one household to the next household. The number of households interviewed was used in determining the average output for areas with the same characteristics.
Pretest 3 - conducted in NCR I, specifically in the area where there were condominiums. The average output for covering such multi-unit residential buildings was tested. Likewise, this pretest recommended strategies in enumerating households in high-rise condominiums.
Pretest 4 - conducted in Rosario, Cavite. This pretest tested the questions and strategy in covering relocation areas where households displaced by Typhoon Yolanda were transferred.
PILOT CENSUS:
Pilot areas:
Luzon: NCR District I and Cagayan
Visayas: Cebu, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Samar
Mindanao: Davao Oriental
The pilot census was conducted in August 2014, a year before the actual census operation to test every phase of the census operation - workload analysis and cost estimation; questionnaires, forms, and manuals; printing and delivery/distribution of the questionnaires and forms; training, hiring of enumerators, supervisors, and processors; actual enumeration and supervision; and data processing. The pilot census was basically designed to test the procedures and systems to be used in the census enumeration and supervision, and detect and correct any weakness or defficiency in the manual and machine processing systems and procedures before the actual operation is conducted. The experiences in the pilot census resulted to some revisions in the questionnaires, manuals, and in the data processing procedures. Further, in the case of Visayas which included in Typhoon Yolanda affected areas, the pilot censuses served as basis for re-computation of workload in anticipation of possible movements of persons/households due to evacuation.
II. DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS
All households, housing units, and ILQs were listed using CP Form 1 (Listing Booklet). Members of the household were enumerated using CP Form 2 (Household Questionnaire). For households which opted to accomplish the questionnaire themselves CP Form 2 together with CP Form 7 (Household Self-Administered Questionnaire Instructions) were provided. Persons living in ILQs or the institutional population were enumerated using CP Form 4 (Institutional Population Questionnaire). Similarly, especially for large institutional population, CP Form 4 with CP Form 8 (Institutional Population Self-Administered Questionnaire Instructions) were provided to managers or administrators of the ILQ for self-accomplishment.
Information about the characteristics of the barangay, facilities, and establishments therein, among others, were collected using CP Form 5 (Barangay Schedule).
III. PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE DATA COLLECTION
Enumerators (EN), team supervisors (TS), and Census Area Supervisors (CAS) were all hired by PSA. Regular staff of the PSA field offices were designated as Head CAS. Hired CAS assisted the Head CAS.
An EN was assigned to cover one or more enumeration areas (EA) or barangays depending on the workload, average daily output, and mandays computed. A TS was assigned to supervise about four ENs. In turn, a hired CAS was responsible for a group of five teams, with each team consisting of one TS and four ENs. Moreover, Head CASs supervised a group of hired CASs.
IV. CONDUCT OF TRAINING
Training of personnel for the POPCEN 2015 is essential to enable these personnel to effectively carry out the specific tasks assigned to them. Training at different levels were conducted simultaneously and as systematically as possible to come up with a common knowledge on definitions, concepts, and operational procedures that will be used in the enumeration, supervision, and data processing.
The training programs conducted for the POPCEN 2015 were the following:
1. Training on enumeration and field operations in four levels: first level or task force for PSA Central Office (CO), Regional Director and selected Provincial Statistics Officers (PSO); second level for selected PSOs and Field Office (FO) staff; third level for hired CASs; fourth level for TSs, ENs, and other census peronnel;
2. Training on Progress Monitoring System (PMS) and Evaluation of PMS Reports for regional and provincial statisticians were in two levels, the first and second level trainings;
3. Training on Manual Processing and Tracking, Receipt and Control System (TRACS) in three levels: first level for selected CO and FO personnel; second level for regional/provincial statisticians and staff; third level for hired processors, and Receipt and Control Clerks (RCC); and
4. Training on machine processing, scanning, electronic coding, and data encoding of CP Forms 2, 4, and 5, and archiving of CP Form 1 and maps in three levels; first level for selected FO staff; second level for regional statisticians, provincial statisticians; third level for machine processors.
V. SUPERVISION DURING ENUMERATION
Field supervision is primarily aimed at ensuring the correct implementation of procedures and accurate data collection. Thus, field supervisors had systematically undertaken all measures of quality control activities. The following quality control procedures were carried out during the supervision of the conduct of census:
a. Scrutiny or editing of the questionnaires (CP Forms 1, 2, 4, and 5) in the field by the ENs to check for consistency, correctness, and completeness of responses.
b. Scrutiny or editing of questionnaires by supervisors during field work using Computer-Aided Field Editing System (CAFES) which covered items P1 to P12 of all accomplished CP Form 2.
c. Checking randomly by the supervisors the consistency of the number of households and ILQs, the counts for males and females in CP Forms 2 and 4 against the corresponding numbers/entries in CP Form 1 and CP Form 10 (Daily Accomplishment Report of Enumerator).
d. Examination of the questionnaires for dubious and fictitious names/entries.
e. Re-interview at random households that were already enumerated by the ENs to ensure the accuracy of information gathered.
f. Review of maps as to orientation and boundaries and checking if the buildings, ILQs, and important physical landmarks were properly plotted on the maps.
g. Obtaining and comparing the average actual output per day of the ENs with the expected output per day to monitor/assess the progress of the EN's work.
h. Checking for indications of padding or under enumeration.
VI. PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM
The PMS was designed to provide the required information for monitoring the progress of enumeration and evaluating the completeness/coverage of the census at the national, regional. provincial, city/municipality, barangay, and EA levels. The PMS assessed the overall situation of the enumeration in terms of percentage of coverage.
Preparation of reports and documents pertaining to the PMS started with the submission of CP Form 1 by the ENs to the TS after the enumeration has been completed in an EA. The information in CP Form 1 that were consistently checked with CP Forms 2 and 4 were sent through Short Messaging Service (SMS) or text messaging by the TS. PMS reports were generated based on SMS data sent which included the number of EAs and barangays which have been completely enumerated; count of household and population covered; and number of areas with GPS coverage. These reports were generated and used by Provincial Statistical Office (PO), Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO), and CO to monitor the progress of enumeration and assess the coverage of the census.
VII. INTERVIEW TIME
On average, the duration of interview in a household lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes.
VIII. DAILY AVERAGE OUTPUT
The average output per day or the average number of households enumerated per day varied depending on the characteristics of the EA/barangay in terms of terrain, accessibility, urbanity, dispersion of households, weather, availability of transportation facilities, and prevailing socio-economic and political conditions in the area.
IX. LANGUAGES USED IN THE INTERVIEW
The census questionnaires were prepared in English and translated into different languages, such as Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Ibanag, Kapampangan, Cuyunon, Rombloanon, Bikol/Bicol, Masbateño, Hiligaynon, Cebuano/Bisaya, Waray, Chavacano, Surigaonon, Kamayo, Maguindanaon, Maranao, and Tausug. Data collectors were instructed to use these translation guides, if needed in interviewing the household. The translation guides can be found at the back of the EN's Manual.