In the context of official statistics, which of the following is not a…

Concept

In official statistics, a data source is a channel from which observations are obtained for statistical compilation. Censuses, sample surveys, and administrative records are standard data-collection sources.

An information system may store, manage, analyze, and display data, but that role is distinct from being the original statistical data-collection source.

Application

Administrative records arise from routine organizational activities; a population census enumerates the defined population; and a sample survey gathers observations from a selected subset. GIS, by contrast, is a computer-based system that works with geographically referenced data supplied to it.

Contrast

• Administrative records: operational records that can be reused for statistical compilation.

• Population census: complete enumeration used to collect population data.

• GIS: a system for storing, managing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data.

• Sample survey: collection of observations from a selected sample of a population.

Result

Therefore, in this classification, GIS is not a data-collection source; it is the system used to work with spatial data.