title: Use of registers and population censuses as sampling frames in Great Britain.
abstract: The use of official data sources as sampling frames for numerous government surveys in the United Kingdom is described.  "The great majority of these surveys use registers of various kinds as sampling frames.  Some of these registers are intended to cover all addresses in the country in which there are private households.  Other registers relate to specific sub-groups of the population.  Each of the general registers has advantages and disadvantages but none is ideal for sampling purposes.  In recent years nearly all samples required of the general population have been drawn, by automated means, from the Postcode Address File, although the balance of advantages of this system need to be continually monitored and evaluated."  Reasons why the census is not often used as a sampling frame are considered.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D019352:Censuses; D003625:Data Collection; D019049:Developed Countries; D005060:Europe; D011154:Population Characteristics; D012042:Registries; D012106:Research; D012494:Sampling Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Census; Data Collection; Data Sources; Developed Countries; Europe; Northern Europe; Population Register; Population Statistics; Research Methodology; Sampling Studies; Studies; Survey Methodology; Surveys; United Kingdom