Designing and Implementing Gridded Population Surveys provides a detailed overview and step-by-step tutorials to conduct gridded population household surveys. Five real-world gridded population surveys in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are profiled.
“Gridded population sampling” refers to a survey that uses a sample frame derived from gridded population modelled estimates rather than traditional census population counts.
The use of gridded population estimates to generate a survey sample frame is often sensible when census data are outdated, inaccurate, or unavailable. This is the case for one in ten lower- or middle-income countries which have not held a census in the past 15 years, as well as in dynamic fast-growing cities. Surveys in insecure settings or where face-to-face interactions should be minimized (for example, during a health crisis) are also good candidates for gridded population sampling because the small size of grid cells enables easy-to-implement, robust area-microcensus sample designs.
The manual includes a road map detailing steps that might differ in a gridded population survey compared to a traditional census-based survey. Several decision trees are provided to help readers decide:
- Whether gridded population sampling is appropriate.
- Which sample design to use to achieve the survey aims within budget.
- Which gridded population datasets and primary sampling units (PSUs) are suitable to construct your gridded population sample frame.
- Which tools to use for sampling and implementing depending on your team’s skill set.
After following the decision trees in the manual, use the tool below to verify that your combination of selections are viable to construct a gridded population sample frame and draw a first stage sample.
