Sampling

Sampling helps a lot in research. It is one of the most important factors

which determines the accuracy of your research/survey result. If anything
goes wrong with your sample then it will be directly reflected in the final
result. There are lot of techniques which help us to gather sample
depending upon the need and situation. This blog post tries to explain
some of those techniques.

To start with, let’s have a look on some basic terminology

Population

Sample

Sampling

Population is the collection of the elements which has some or the other
characteristic in common. Number of elements in the population is the
size of the population.

Sample is the subset of the population. The process of selecting a sample is

known as sampling. Number of elements in the sample is the sample size.

Sampling

There are lot of sampling techniques which are grouped into two
categories as
  Probability Sampling

 Non- Probability Sampling

The difference lies between the above two is whether the sample selection
is based on randomization or not. With randomization, every element gets
equal chance to be picked up and to be part of sample for study.

Probability Sampling

This Sampling technique uses randomization to make sure that every

element of the population gets an equal chance to be part of the selected
sample. It’s alternatively known as random sampling.

Simple Random Sampling

Stratified sampling

Systematic sampling

Cluster Sampling

Multi stage Sampling

Simple Random Sampling: Every element has an equal chance of

getting selected to be the part sample. It is used when we don’t have any
kind of prior information about the target population.
For example: Random selection of 20 students from class of 50 student.
Each student has equal chance of getting selected. Here probability of
selection is 1/50

Single Random Sampling

Stratified Sampling

This technique divides the elements of the population into small

subgroups (strata) based on the similarity in such a way that the elements
within the group are homogeneous and heterogeneous among the other
subgroups formed. And then the elements are randomly selected from
each of these strata. We need to have prior information about the
population to create subgroups.

Stratified Sampling

Cluster Sampling

Our entire population is divided into clusters or sections and then the
clusters are randomly selected. All the elements of the cluster are used for
sampling. Clusters are identified using details such as age, sex, location
etc.

Cluster sampling can be done in following ways:

· Single Stage Cluster Sampling

Entire cluster is selected randomly for sampling.

Single Stage Cluster Sampling

· Two Stage Cluster Sampling

Here first we randomly select clusters and then from those selected
clusters we randomly select elements for sampling

Two Stage Cluster Sampling

Systematic Clustering

Here the selection of elements is systematic and not random except the
first element. Elements of a sample are chosen at regular intervals of
population. All the elements are put together in a sequence first where
each element has the equal chance of being selected.

For a sample of size n, we divide our population of size N into subgroups

of k elements.

We select our first element randomly from the first subgroup of k

elements.

To select other elements of sample, perform following:

We know number of elements in each group is k i.e N/n

So if our first element is n1 then

Second element is n1+k i.e n2

Third element n2+k i.e n3 and so on..

Taking an example of N=20, n=5

No of elements in each of the subgroups is N/n i.e 20/5 =4= k

Now, randomly select first element from the first subgroup.

If we select n1= 3

n2 = n1+k = 3+4 = 7

n3 = n2+k = 7+4 = 11
Systematic Clustering

Multi-Stage Sampling

It is the combination of one or more methods described above.

Population is divided into multiple clusters and then these clusters are
further divided and grouped into various sub groups (strata) based on
similarity. One or more clusters can be randomly selected from each
stratum. This process continues until the cluster can’t be divided anymore.
For example country can be divided into states, cities, urban and rural and
all the areas with similar characteristics can be merged together to form a
strata.

Multi-Stage Sampling

Non-Probability Sampling

It does not rely on randomization. This technique is more reliant on the

researcher’s ability to select elements for a sample. Outcome of sampling
might be biased and makes difficult for all the elements of population to
be part of the sample equally. This type of sampling is also known as non-
random sampling.

Convenience Sampling
Purposive Sampling

Quota Sampling

Referral /Snowball Sampling

Convenience Sampling

Here the samples are selected based on the availability. This method is
used when the availability of sample is rare and also costly. So based on
the convenience samples are selected.

For example: Researchers prefer this during the initial stages of survey
research, as it’s quick and easy to deliver results.

Purposive Sampling

This is based on the intention or the purpose of study. Only those elements
will be selected from the population which suits the best for the purpose of
our study.

For Example: If we want to understand the thought process of the

people who are interested in pursuing master’s degree then the selection
criteria would be “Are you interested for Masters in..?”

All the people who respond with a “No” will be excluded from our sample.

Quota Sampling

This type of sampling depends of some pre-set standard. It selects the

representative sample from the population. Proportion of characteristics/
trait in sample should be same as population. Elements are selected until
exact proportions of certain types of data is obtained or sufficient data in
different categories is collected.

For example: If our population has 45% females and 55% males then
our sample should reflect the same percentage of males and females.
Referral /Snowball Sampling

This technique is used in the situations where the population is completely

unknown and rare.

Therefore we will take the help from the first element which we select for
the population and ask him to recommend other elements who will fit the
description of the sample needed.

So this referral technique goes on, increasing the size of population like a
snowball.

Referral /Snowball Sampling

For example: It’s used in situations of highly sensitive topics like HIV
Aids where people will not openly discuss and participate in surveys to
share information about HIV Aids.

Not all the victims will respond to the questions asked so researchers can
contact people they know or volunteers to get in touch with the victims
and collect information

Helps in situations where we do not have the access to sufficient people

with the characteristics we are seeking. It starts with finding people to
study.