Solved – Difference between a census and a sample

populationsampling

I know when you do a census, you cover the entire population but when you take a sample, you select a group from the population. There can be only one census but there can be many different samples from the same population. Hence, the latter results in sampling error (because it is just one aspect of the population).

This may be a bit simplistic but I think it captures the essential differences between a census and a sample.

A consultant that my company has engaged is blurring this distinction between a census and a sample. He has essentially collected a sample, weighted it and then interpreted the findings as if they relate to the entire population. He is mostly using descriptive statistics. He has even calculated the sampling error.

My question is: Is it ever valid to treat a sample as a census? If so, what are the preconditions?

Best Answer

It is standard practice, particularly in official statistics, to use "weighting to population" of a sample and then report estimates for the whole population, including sample error. This should not be confused with a census, but it is quite legitimate to refer to these estimates of population parameters (eg population total savings, total expenditure, etc).

Surveys are often designed specifically to facilitate this analytical approach; indeed, if they are not so designed, it can be difficult or impossible to do the appropriate weighting.

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