- Research Method
One of the more extensive tasks of a Census, is mapping the housing units. To ensure an optimal enumeration of all living quarters on Aruba, enumerators were provided with a most recent update of the CBS Geographical Information System (GIS). For practical purposes of the Population and Housing Census, Aruba was divided into 56 enumeration districts and 1068 enumeration areas (EA). Enumerators were assigned an EA each and were in charge of visiting al housing units in that EA, some 29 to 35 housing units per EA.
During the 2010 Census, two different methods of data collection were used. Census data were collected by means of a ‘short’ questionnaire completed on paper, and a ‘long’ questionnaire completed on a Triple E netbook (hand held computer). The long form questionnaire included 30 extra questions and was completed in at least one enumeration area per enumeration district, totaling 70 EA’s. .
Data collection occurred in the same manner as in the 2000 Census. The Census forms were scanned and a combination of optical mark reading, optical character recognition, and imaging was used to capture the short form data. Digital information from the netbooks was immediately coded, edited and brought together in a national data file. On the occasion of World Statistics Day (20-10-2010), three weeks after the census, the first preliminary results of the census were presented to the general public.
- Research Period
The enumeration activities of the Census 2010 started on Wednesday September 29th at 8.00 hours in the morning. At that time, enumerators gathered at their enumeration office, where they received a briefing by the head enumerators. Data was collected with reference to the situation on Census night, September 29th midnight (00:00).
- Household Characteristics Questionnaire
- Living Quarter Questionnaire
- Person Questionnaire
- Concepts and definitions
Execution of Census 2010
- Fieldwork
During the Census week, all enumeration activities were coordinated via the Census District Offices. Head enumerators and their assistants were in charge of closely monitoring the progress of the enumeration activities and conducting error checks in the forms completed by the enumerators. They were guided by eight fieldwork teams, consisting of CBS personnel, which made daily visits to each Census District Office. Head enumerators and CBS fieldwork teams were equipped with cellular phones to enhance the communication between the Census District Offices and the CBS and to assist the fieldwork teams in their problem solving tasks. During the Census week, a total of 89,032 individuals were enumerated in 30,340 households. Partly due to the fact that the Census week coincided with an autumn school holiday when many inhabitants spend their vacation abroad, some 3,300 households were not enumerated during the Census week. These households were revisited during the Post-Census enumeration period.
- Employees of Census 2010
All personnel involved in the Census, including staff of the Central Bureau of Statistics, were trained well in advance to ensure an optimal functioning during the Census week. Enumerators were trained on the contents of the questionnaire and the procedures to be followed during the Census week. Enumerators using the netbooks were trained separately. They received information on the contents of the more detailed digital questionnaire and were instructed how to use the netbooks as a data entry device and interviewing tool. Head enumerators and assistants received additional training on administrative procedures to be conducted at their Census District Offices. Head enumerators and their assistants were mostly head of schools and teachers, and of the enumerators selected, nearly 50% were teachers and other public servants.
- Publicity campaign
Before the start of the Census an extensive publicity campaign was held to inform the public about the importance of cooperating with the Census. In April 2010, to mark the official start of the 2010 Census activities, a website was launched with extensive information on the Census. In addition, a Facebook account was created where individuals could receive regular updates and comment on all aspects of the Census. Furthermore, a private company was hired to conduct an extensive publicity campaign through the media. The public was kept informed via newspaper articles and advertisements and appearances of CBS personnel in television and radio programs and news items. In addition, Census jingles were broadcasted via a wide range of radio stations and commercials were aired on a large number of television channels. For the duration of the Census week, they were shown before the start of every movie played at the movie theaters. The publicity campaign also included the placement of posters, banners and flags on key locations on Aruba and the distribution of Census pens and informative folders on heavily trafficked roads by individuals carrying ‘A-Frame’ signs with information on the Census.