The enumerators of pilot Census of PHC 2011 will start face-to-face interviews
Tomorrow, on 5 March starts the second phase of the pilot Census of 2011 Population and Housing Census (PHC 2011), in the course of which the enumerators of Statistics Estonia will visit those people living in the pilot Census areas who did not participate in e-census.
The second phase of the pilot Census of PHC 2011, or face-to-face interviews, shall be carried out in nine Estonian local governments from 5 to 31 March. “With the help of more than 5,000 people the testing of electronic self-enumeration or e-census on the Internet has been completed, and now we turn to the people of the pilot Census areas for assistance and understanding in order to test the functioning of face-to-face interviews,” said Diana Beltadze, the Project Manager of PHC 2011.
According to Beltadze the procedure for performing face-to-face interviews has been subject to several significant changes when compared to the previous Census. “During previous Census we used paper questionnaires, which had to be scanned in afterwards; this time the enumerators enter the information directly in the laptop, where it shall be immediately forwarded to the server of Statistics Estonia via secure channels,” said Diana Beltadze. “This enables significantly quicker data processing later on and also provides a better overview of the progress of Census activities.”
In the course of the face-to-face interviews, 24 enumerators will visit the homes of those people who did not participate in e-census, failed to complete the questionnaire during e-census or submitted information that needs to be specified.
The enumerators will always present a valid certificate of employment issued by Statistics Estonia which bears a photograph of the enumerator and then they agree on the time of the interview. “The security of people is important for us, therefore they can call +372 625 9100, the customer support, and check the name of the enumerator working in their area,” said Diana Beltadze.
The duration of an interview is up to 45 minutes in case of a single member household, plus another 15 minutes per every extra person. In case there is nobody home at the address given in the sample, the enumerator will leave in the mailbox a notice containing enumerator’s contact information and proposed time for the interview. The enumerators will visit the residents of the pilot Census areas on all weekdays from 9.00 to 21.00.
The pilot Census of PHC 2011 lasting for three months is carried out in two parts: e-census (from 31 December 2009 to 21 February 2010) and face-to-face interviews (from 5 to 31 March 2010).
In the course of the pilot Census of PHC 2011 over 10,000 persons and their dwellings will be enumerated. Different regions and settlement units all over Estonia have been selected for the pilot Census in order to test thoroughly the organization and information systems of the Census. The pilot Census will be carried out in Tallinn, Narva, Püssi, Pärnu-Jaagupi, Paide, Aravete, and in Rae, Rõuge and Viimsi rural municipalities (for detailed information see /uudised/phc2011).
In 2011 the Population Census will be conducted for the eleventh time on the territory of Estonia. The previous censuses were carried out in 1881, 1897, 1922, 1934, 1941, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989 and 2000. In 2010 and 2011 Population and Housing Censuses will be held in the majority of countries all over the world.