Difference Between Census and Survey

Main Difference – Census vs Survey

Census and Survey are both data collecting methods that involve systematically acquiring and recording information about the members. The main difference between census and survey is that census gathers information from every member of the population whereas survey collects information from a sample of the population.

What is a Census

A census is a type of data collection method that involves the entire population; in a census, information is gathered from every member of the population. No sampling method is used in a census; in fact, you can say that 100% sample is being used in a census. Since all members have participated in the census, the collected data is more accurate and detailed. The detailed, accurate data which is representative of the whole population is one of the best advantages of a census.

However, there is also a downside in this data collection. A census can be a time consuming and expensive project since it involves the whole population. Collecting data from a larger population involves a lengthy procedure and a longer publication time-frame.

The term census is mostly associated with national population and housing censuses. As United Nations defines census should be conducted at least every ten years. It is not possible to conduct censuses frequently as they involve very long and expensive procedures. Census is usually carried out by the government of a country.

What is a Survey

A survey is a data collection method that only involves part of the total population. In a survey, a sample is selected to represent the whole population. Thus, a survey is a data collection activity that involves only a sample of the population. A survey can focus on different types of topics and information such as opinions, behaviors, preferences, or factual information. Different data collection methods such as polls, interviews, questionnaires, etc. can be also used.

Since a survey involves only a sample of the entire population, it is not as expensive or time-consuming as a census. They can be also conducted more frequently. As a result, surveys have become a popular data collection technique in many research fields. Surveys can be conducted to gain information about different research fields such as marketing, psychology, sociology, etc.

However, the information collected from a survey may not be as accurate and reliable as information collected from a census as only a sample of the total population is used in a survey. The success of the survey is dependent on the selection of the sample. There is more chance of collecting accurate data when the sample is large.