RetailISCO 4227

Survey enumerator

A survey enumerator is a person who conducts interviews and fills in forms to collect data from respondents, most of it demographic information gathered for government statistical purposes. The contact happens by telephone, by post, on a personal visit to the home or on the street, and each of those settings asks for a different approach to the same questionnaire.

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Rate 5 of the 14 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use questioning techniques

interview people

respond to enquiries

observe confidentiality

fill out forms

About survey enumerator

The interview is a guided exercise rather than a conversation. The enumerator applies questioning techniques, works through the form in the order the survey design requires, and helps the respondent supply the information the survey is after without steering the answer. The enumerator knows survey methods and asks each question in the wording the questionnaire sets.

Respondents have questions of their own as well. Respondents ask what the survey is for, who will see it and whether they have to take part, and the enumerator answers those questions. Confidentiality of information governs the whole contact, because the data collected is personal.

Recording closes each case. The enumerator documents the interviews, completes the forms, tabulates the survey results, and prepares the survey report. Forms are therefore completed carefully during the interview itself.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (14)

communicationcommunicationThe exchange and conveying of information, ideas, concepts, thoughts, and feelings through the use of a shared system of words, signs, and semiotic rules via a medium.interview techniquesinterview techniquesThe techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.survey techniquessurvey techniquesTechniques on how to identify a target audience, choose the right survey method and analyse the data.information confidentialityinformation confidentialityThe mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with ...use questioning techniquesuse questioning techniquesFormulate questions appropriate to the purpose, such as eliciting accurate information or supporting the learning process.interview peopleinterview peopleInterview people in a range of different circumstances.respond to enquiriesrespond to enquiriesRespond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.observe confidentialityobserve confidentialityObserve the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.fill out formsfill out formsFill out forms of a different nature with accurate information, legible calligraphy, and within a timely manner.capture people's attentioncapture people's attentionApproach people and draw their attention to a subject presented to them or to get information from them.tabulate survey resultstabulate survey resultsCollate and organise the answers gathered in interviews or polls in order to be analysed and draw conclusions from them.document interviewsdocument interviewsRecord, write, and capture answers and information collected during interviews for processing and analysis using shorthand or technical equipment.adhere to questionnairesadhere to questionnairesFollow and ask the questions laid out in questionnaires when interviewing somebody.prepare survey reportprepare survey reportGather the analysed data from the survey and write a detailed report on the outcome of the survey.

Optional (23) — show

national population censusnational population censusThe official procedure of systematically collecting information of the population such as gender, employability, education levels, and other demographics in order have a clear understanding of the pop...visual presentation techniquesvisual presentation techniquesThe visual representation and interaction techniques, such as histograms, scatter plots, surface plots, tree maps and parallel coordinate plots, that can be used to present abstract numerical and non-...politicspoliticsThe method, process and study of influencing people, gaining control over a community or society, and the distribution of power within a community and between societies.statisticsstatisticsThe study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of ...market researchmarket researchThe processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets...opinion pollopinion pollThe inquiry of the opinion of the public, or at least of a representative sample, about a determined subject.psychologypsychologyThe human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.demographydemographyThe scientific field of study that deals with studying the size, structure, and distribution of the human population, and its geographical and temporal changes.data quality assessmentdata quality assessmentThe process of revealing data issues using quality indicators, measures and metrics in order to plan data cleansing and data enrichment strategies according to data quality criteria.polling techniquespolling techniquesThe different methods to approach targets and collect information from them for a variety of purposes. Polling techniques such as self-administered questionnaires, remote interviews, and personal Inte...explain interview purposesexplain interview purposesExplain the main purpose and objective of the interview in a manner that the recipient understands and responds to the questions accordingly.manage needs for stationery itemsmanage needs for stationery itemsWatch, analyse, and provide sufficient and required stationery items for business facilities to run operations smoothly.perform data analysisperform data analysisCollect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.conduct public surveysconduct public surveysConduct the procedures of a public survey from the initial formulation and compilation of the questions, identifying the target audience, managing the survey method and operations, managing the proces...use office systemsuse office systemsMake appropriate and timely use of office systems used in business facilities depending on the aim, whether for the collection of messages, client information storage, or agenda scheduling. It include...use shorthanduse shorthandApply shorthand as a method to capture spoken words into written form. Use shorthands in written texts to reflect acronyms and relevant information required to be expressed in such fashion.operate GPS systemsoperate GPS systemsUse GPS Systems.evaluate interview reportsevaluate interview reportsAssess the quality and plausibility of the interview results on the basis of the documentation while taking various factors into account such as the weighting scale.revise questionnairesrevise questionnairesRead, analyse, and provide feedback on the accuracy and adequacy of questionnaires and their assessment fashion taking into account its purpose.present reportspresent reportsDisplay results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.communicate by telephonecommunicate by telephoneLiaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.use microsoft officeuse microsoft officeUse the standard programs contained in Microsoft Office. Create a document and do basic formatting, insert page breaks, create headers or footers, and insert graphics, create automatically generated t...design questionnairesdesign questionnairesStudy the objectives of the research and imprint those aims into the design and development of questionnaires.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a survey enumerator do?

Survey enumerators perform interviews and fill in forms in order to collect the data provided by interviewees. They can collect information by phone, mail, personal visits or on the street. They conduct and help the interviewees administer the information that the interviewer is interested in having, usually related to demographic information for governmental statistical purposes.

What skills does a survey enumerator need?

A survey enumerator needs 14 essential skills, including communication, interview techniques, survey techniques, information confidentiality, use questioning techniques.

Will AI replace survey enumerator jobs?

The AI disruption score for survey enumerator is 61/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: fill out forms, tabulate survey results, use shorthand. Most resilient: politics, demography, psychology.

AI Replacement Risk

61/ 100

High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

fill out forms tabulate survey results use shorthand

Skills resilient to automation

politics demography psychology

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Quick Facts

SectorRetail

ISCO GroupCustomer services clerks

Essential Skills14

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