CHOOSING APPROPRIATE
QUANTITATIVE DESIGN'S
DESCRIBING SAMPLE SIZE AND
SAMPLING PROCEDURE'S
POPULATION VS. SAMPLE
The population can be defined in terms of geographical
location, age, income, or many other characteristics. It is
important to carefully define your target population according
to the purpose and practicalities of your project. A lack of a
representative sample affects the validity. of your results,
and can lead to several research biases, particularly sampling
bias.
Sampling Frame
The sampling frame is the actual list of individuals
that the sample will be drawn from. Ideally, it should
include the entire target population (and nobody who
is not part of that population).
Sample Size
The number of individuals you should include in your
sample depends on various factors, including the size
and variability. of the population and your research
design. There are different sample size calculators
and formulas depending on what you want to achieve
with statistical analysis.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
METHODS
Probability sampling means that every
member of the population has a chance
of being selected. It is mainly used in
quantitative research.
1. Simple Random Sapling
In a simple random sample, every member of the
population has an equal chance of being selected.
Your sampling frame should include the whole
population.
2. Systematic Sampling
Systematic sampling is similar to simple random
sampling, but it is usually slightly easier to conduct.
Every member of the population is listed with a
number, but instead of randomly generating numbers,
individuals are chosen at regular intervals.
3. Stratified Sampling
Stratified sampling involves dividing the population
into subpopulations that may differ in important ways.
It allows you draw more precise conclusions by
ensuring that every subgroup is properly represented
in the sample.
4. Cluster Sampling
Cluster sampling also involves dividing the population
into subgroups, but each subgroup should have similar
characteristics to the whole sample. Instead of
sampling individuals from each subgroup, you
randomly select entire subgroups.
NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
METHODS
This type of sample is easier and cheaper to access, but it
has a higher risk of sapling bias. That means the inferences
you can make about the population are weaker than with
probability samples, and your conclusions may be more
limited. If you use a non-probability sample, you should still
aim to make it as representative of the population as
possible.
1. Convenience Sampling
A convenience sample simply includes the individuals
who happen to be most accessible to the researcher.
2. Voluntary response sampling
Similar to a convenience sample, a voluntary response sample
is mainly based on ease of access. Instead of the researcher
choosing participants and directly contacting them, people
volunteer themselves (e.g. by responding to a public online
survey).
3. Purposive Sampling
This type of sampling, also known as judgement
sampling, involves the researcher using their
expertise to select a sample that is most useful to the
purposes of the research.
4. Snowball Sampling
If the population is hard to access, snowball sampling
can be used to recruit participants via other participants.
The number of people you have access to “snowballs”
as you get in contact with more people. The downside
here is also representativeness, as you have no way of
knowing how representative your sample is due to the
reliance on participants recruiting others. This can lead
to sampling bias.
5. Quota Sampling
Quota sampling relies on the non-random selection of
a predetermined number or proportion of units. This is
called a quota.
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