Data collection in Developing Countries

Abstract

Reviewed in the context of the issues discussed in this Bulletin, this book is very useful in the emphasis it gives to the practical problems of collecting data in sample surveys but weak in that it is far too uncritical of survey techniques vis-à-vis other forms of data collection with respect to cost effectiveness issues.During the Rapid Rural Appraisal Conference, several papers (Carruthers 1979, ElIman 1979, Fallon 1979 and Moore 1979) pointed out the inappropriate professional standards of statisticians and their failure to treat statistics as servant rather than master.So the first paragraph of this book reads ominously whpn the authors state their terms of reference as 'we consider techniques of inquiry from the case study to the census, but give major emphasis to data collection by