🧩 What are the key steps involved in designing a Sample Survey?

🧩 What are the key steps involved in designing a Sample Survey?

Answer: Designing a good sample survey is a systematic process. Each step ensures reliability and accuracy of results.

Main Steps:

1. Define the Objective: Clearly state what you want to estimate — e.g., average income, literacy rate, unemployment level.

2. Define the Target Population: Specify the group about which information is required (e.g., all households in Delhi, or all workers in manufacturing).

3. Prepare the Sampling Frame: Develop or select a complete list or database of population units from which the sample will be drawn.

4. Choose Sampling Method: Decide whether to use probability sampling (like SRS, stratified, multistage) or non-probability sampling (like quota, purposive).

5. Determine Sample Size: Choose an adequate number of units to balance accuracy and cost.

6. Design Questionnaire / Schedule: Develop a clear and unbiased set of questions to collect relevant information.

7. Conduct Pilot Survey: Test the questionnaire and procedures on a small scale to detect problems.

8. Training and Data Collection: Train enumerators and collect data as per instructions.

9. Data Checking and Processing: Verify, code, and clean the data before analysis.

10. Estimation and Reporting: Analyze results, estimate parameters, and prepare the final report.

Example (ISS Context): Before the NSSO Labour Force Survey, a detailed survey design document is prepared covering all these steps — from defining the sampling frame (villages/urban blocks) to estimation procedures.

Follow-up Question:

👉 Which step do you think is the most critical?

→ The sampling frame and data collection steps are most critical because errors here directly affect representativeness and reliability.