Biases in measuring the labour force : results of a methods test survey in Uttar Pradesh, India

To obtain statistically valid information on the female labour force, which is often under-reported by current data collection techniques, a methods survey test of 1,621 households was carried out in India using roughly the same number of male and female interviewers, respondents answering for themselves and respondents answering for another, two types of questionnaire, and four labour force definitions. It was found that the sex of the interviewers and the respondents was not a major source of bias but that the questionnaire design was very important. (DÜI-Sen)