Building -is defined as a physical structure, separate and independent of any other, compromising of one or more rooms or other spaces covered by a roof enclosed within external walls or dividing walls that extend from the foundation to the roof. It is designed for residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, or cultural purposes of for the provision of services. Detached rooms relating to the main building are treated as part of the main building.
In some instances, buildings may not conform to the definition outlined above. These include garages, permanent wayside vegetable stalls and poultry pens where there may or may not be external walls extending from foundation to roof as specified. These are to be taken up as buildings and are to be further classified according to “type of business activity”, so as to distinguish from other types of buildings which conforms to the full definition. Car-park lots with structures from which business is transacted i.e. the issuing of tickets and collection of parking fees must be assigned a building number as well as a business number, and a remark to this effect is recorded in the appropriate column.
Business Establishment – is any building or area associated with a building where any identifiable form of economic activity is normally carried out. The area used for this economic activity does not necessarily have to be a separate room but could be part of a room that is also used for another purpose. E.g. A small parlor operated in a living room is to be classified as a business establishment.
Census - a count of all people and households. This enumeration also implies the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis and publication of demographic, social and economic statistics relating to the population.
Census Day- Reference date for the population and housing census conducted every 10 years. The Department Statistics establishes September 16th as Census Day.
Census Identification- The census taker or field enumerator will present an ID badge that includes: their name, their photograph, a Department of Statistics watermark, and an expiration date.
Computer assisted Personal Interviews CAPI - An interviewing technique in which the respondent or interviewer uses an electronic device (tablets) to answer the questions. It is similar to computer-assisted telephone interviewing, except that the interview takes place in person instead of over the telephone.
Confidentiality – A guarantee that the information individuals provide to the sworn census employee and the Census Office will not be revealed to others.
Data Collection - the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
Dwelling Unit - is any building or separate and independent part of a building in which a household resides or may reside. Alternatively, it could be an unoccupied building or separate and independent part of a building designed or repurposed for residence. Dwelling units must have direct access from the street or common landing, staircase, passage or gallery, where occupants can enter or leave without passing through anybody else’s living quarters. Dwelling units may be a single house, flat, apartment, out room, part of a commercial building or a boarding house catering for less than six (6) persons.
Field Supervisor- The main role of the Field Supervisor is to ensure that the fieldwork is conducted properly. He/she is required to supervise and assist the Interviewers/Enumerators with any questions they may have concerning the questionnaire, or difficulties they may encounter in the field.
Enumeration District (ED) – An Enumeration District is an area that could be covered by a single enumerator (census taker) in one census period.
Enumerator - An enumerator refers to survey personnel charged with carrying out that part of an enumeration consisting of the counting and listing of people or assisting respondents in answering the questions and in completing the questionnaire.
Institution –is a building used as living quarters for housing persons who are not in households. (Some examples include hospitals, hotels, orphanages, police barracks, prisons, large boarding houses that cater for six or more guests etc. however, some institutions can also be businesses. In these cases, the businesses are recorded on a separate line and given a business number.
Head of Household- is defined as a usual resident member of the household who is acknowledged by the other members of the household as the household head. The Head of the Household is the person the other members acknowledge as head.
Household - is defined as one or more persons living together (i.e. sleeping most nights of the week) and sharing at least one daily meal. It is important to note that a member of the household needs not to be a relative of the main family. For example, a boarder or a domestic employee who sleeps in most nights of the week and shares at least one of the daily meals is also included as a member of the household. It is possible for a household to consist of just one person, or more than one family, as long as they share living arrangements. A group of unrelated persons living together can also comprise a household.
Household Interview-is typically conducted one on one; at most, one other person asking interview questions or simply observing may be present, but generally it is more individualized.
Housing Unit - A housing unit is a separate and independent place of abode intended for habitation by a single household, or one not intended for habitation but occupied as living quarters by a household at the time of the census. Thus, it may be an occupied or vacant dwelling, an occupied mobile or improvised housing unit or any other place occupied as living quarters by a household at the time of the census. This category includes housing of various levels of permanency and acceptability.
Oath of Secrecy- Oath of Secrecy which guarantees the public that the information they give you will not be revealed to anyone outside the Statistical Office. Anyone violating this oath will be severely penalized, so be on your guard throughout.
Occupied Vacant Dwelling Unit- is a dwelling unit that is habitable but not currently occupied. A dwelling unit that has been closed for a period greater than 6 months is considered vacant.
Occupied Closed Dwelling Unit- is a dwelling unit which is occupied, but during the enumeration period, the occupants are temporarily away, that’s is away for less than six (6) months.
Questionnaire – A group or sequence of questions designed to elicit information upon a subject, or sequence of subjects, from an informant.
Statistical Act- The Statistics Act of the country expressly prohibits anyone from divulging or receiving such information under the penalties prescribed by law. These penalties include fines and/or imprisonment.
Survey - A survey is an investigation about the characteristics of a given population by means of collecting data from a sample of that population and estimating their characteristics through the systematic use of statistical methodology.
Total Population - For census purposes, the total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census. In the broadest sense, the total may comprise either all usual residents of the country or all persons present in the country at the time of the census.
Visitation Record – A record of visitor activity over different spans of time. It is useful for planning purposes