Let's assume I have a census data of a population which I would like to study and it has variables such as age, gender, sex, occupation etc and the dependent variable which is community participation of the population is in the form of numerical data (mean score). Is it appropriate to apply inferential statistics such as t test, ANOVA etc. to find out the variance/difference between the independent variables such as age group (such as young,middle, and old), sex (male/female), occupation (four categories), level of education (five categories)?
Inferential Statistics for Census Data – Applying Statistical Significance and Inference
censusdeterminantinferencesamplingstatistical significance
Best Answer
You can test hypotheses if you want to generalize your findings beyond the original population; this is the practical meaning of the superpopulation model. This would apply for a causal and predictive modeling study, or for what Deming calls an "analytic" study. For another related thread, with references, see: Adjusting any power analysis with FPC?
Only you know your study goal. However your proposal to test associations with every demographic/personal variable does not describe a study with a focused set of questions. Nor does it describe a predictive analysis. This might be an analytic analysis, but the inferences will not be strong. Go ahead and test hypotheses; be sure to adjust p-values for multiple comparisons.
Reference Deming, W. E. (1966). Some theory of sampling. New York: Dover Publications.