APPENDIX A. 

 General Explanation 



Page 



DATA COLLECTION A-1 



DATA PROCESSING A-1 



MAJOR DATA CHANGES A-1 



FOLLOW-ON SURVEYS, SPECIAL CENSUSES, AND 



RELATED PUBLICATIONS A-1 



DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS A-2 



FARMS CLASSIFIED BY SPECIFIED CHARACTERISTICS A-4 



CENSUS NONSAMPLING ERROR A-4 



DATA COLLECTION 



Method of Enumeration 



The census of agriculture was conducted by direct 

 enumeration beginning in April 1990, in conjunction with 

 the population and housing censuses. On the last page of 

 the population and housing questionnaire was an agricul- 

 ture screening section. The enumerator was required to 

 complete an agriculture questionnaire when a "yes" answer 

 was received to any one of the five screening questions. 



Questionnaire 



The questionnaire for the 1 990 Census of Agriculture in 

 American Samoa was prepared by the Agriculture Division, 

 Bureau of the Census, in cooperation with the Government 

 of American Samoa. 



The content of the 1 990 census questionnaire is similar 

 to the 1 980 questionnaire. Quantity sold and value of sales 

 were added to the crops and livestock sections. Other 

 additions and deletions were made based on discussions 

 with the Government of American Samoa and with respect 

 to published tables in the 1980 census. 



Followup Procedures 



An enumerator was instructed to visit a farm up to three 

 times. If no one was available to complete the question- 

 naire, the case would then be given to the supervisor. If all 

 attempts to obtain the information from the farm operator 

 failed, the information might then be obtained from a 

 neighbor or by observation of the place. 



DATA PROCESSING 



The processing was done in the Agriculture Division at 

 the Bureau of the Census. Each questionnaire was edited 

 and coded prior to being keyed and tabulated. The ques- 

 tionnaires were examined for accuracy, consistency, and 



completeness. Errors in computations and in units of 

 measure, inconsistencies, and misplaced entries were 

 corrected. Incomplete reports were adjusted on the basis 

 of related information on the same form or on question- 

 naires for nearby farms of similar type and size. 



After all questionnaires had been reviewed, the data 

 were keyed and subjected to a detailed item-by-item 

 computer edit. The edit performed comprehensive checks 

 for completeness and consistency. Inconsistencies identi- 

 fied by the edit were corrected by subject matter special- 

 ists, and reedited. The data were then tabulated by the 

 computer for analysis. Following necessary corrections, 

 the data were retabulated for final publication. 



MAJOR DATA CHANGES 



Prior to each agriculture census, the Bureau of the 

 Census reviews the content of the census forms to elimi- 

 nate questions no longer needed, identify new items 

 necessary to meet user needs, and to better describe the 

 agriculture situation in American Samoa. Data requests are 

 solicited from government agencies in American Samoa. 

 The following changes were made to the 1 990 question- 

 naire: 



• Additions: 



- Information on landlords 



- Green beans 

 Melons 



- Ornamental plants or nursery crops 



- Chicken eggs value 



- Quarts of milk 



- Quantity sold and value of sales in the crops 

 and livestock sections 



• Deletions: 



Green peas 



- Green peppers 

 Fishery section 



The word "matai" was changed to "communal" to 

 reflect the cultural change in land holdings. 



FOLLOW-ON SURVEYS, SPECIAL CENSUSES, 

 AND RELATED PUBLICATIONS 



In addition to the 1 990 Census of Agriculture for Amer- 

 ican Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

 Mariana Islands, the census of agriculture program includes 

 the 1 987 Census of Agriculture for the 50 States, Puerto 



1987 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE 



APPENDIX A A-1 



