AKSUM UNIVERSTY

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE

PHARMACY YEAR II SEMISTER II
COURSE NAME BIOSTATISTICS
GROUP ASSIGNMENT
TITLE: SAMPLING
Group members. ID
1. Tsegay Welu ...................................1602139

2. Zebrehe Hagos ................................1602189

3. William Tesfamariam .....................1602157

4. Makda Tewelde................................. 1602418

5. Merhawit Gebremeskel................... 1602441

6. Roza Yowhans................................... 1602500

7. Saba Kidanemariyam....................... 1603291

8. Selemawit Gebrehans..................... 1602521

9. Solyana Ftsum ...................................1602543

10. Weini Kidanemariyam .....................1602157

Submission date

Submitted to Instructor

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Contents. Page
Sampling and sampling methods........................ 2
Samplin. .......................................................................................................................2

sample...........................................................................................................................2

population.......................................................................................................................2

Steps of and of sampling process.......................................................2

Sampling methods.............................................................. 3
Probability or random sampling ......................................3
Simple random sampling ..............................................................................................4

Systematic random sampling .......................................................................................5

Stratified random sample ..............................................................................................5

Cluster random sampling ..............................................................................................6

Non probability sampling ...........................................................................7

Convenient sampling ....................................................................................................8

Purposive sampling .......................................................................................................9

Quota sampling ............................................................................................................10

Snow ball sampling .....................................................................................................11

Dense sampling ...........................................................................................................11

Summery ......................................................................................................................12

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SAMPLING AND SAMPLING METHODS

Sampling is a process, which allows us to study a small group of people from the large
group to derive inferences that are likely to be applicable to all the people of the large group.

This is done as When a researcher conducts a research, it’s rarely possible to collect data from
every person in that group or to study the whole population. Instead, the researcher selects a
sample.

Sample -refers to a smaller, manageable version of a larger group.

- a subset containing the characteristics of a larger population.

- the group of individuals who will actually participate in the research.

- the specific group of individuals that a researcher will collect data from.

Population - is any group of individuals that have one or more characteristics in common
and that are in interest of researcher.

-refers to any collection of specified group of human beings or of non human entities
such as objects, educational institutions, time units, geographical areas, prices of commodities,
salary of an individual etc.

-is the entire group that a researcher wants to draw conclusions about.

STEPS OF SAMPLING PROCESS

• Defining the population.
• Preparing sampling frame,
• Selecting a representative sample through proper sampling method.
• Obtaining an adequate sample.
(The adequacy of sample is depended upon
1. Our knowledge about population.

2. The method used in drawing the sample.)

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SAMPLING METHODS
There are two broad categories of sampling-
• Probability sampling or random sampling.
• Non- Probability sampling or non-random sampling

Probability (random) sampling

-is defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher chooses samples from a larger
population using a method based on the theory of probability.

-the researcher sets a few criteria and chooses members of a population randomly.

- every member of the target population has a known chance of being included in the sample.

-members have an equal opportunity of the sample with this selection parameter.

- It's main objective is to generalize the result based on statistical concepts:

• Larger sample more precision value of parameter
• Normal distribution
-It is the Best for homogeneous population

There are four types of probability sampling :

• Simple random sampling
• Systematic random sampling
• Stratified random sampling
• Cluster random sampling

Simple random sampling

As its name suggests, it is an entirely random method of selecting the sample.

-is a randomly selected subset of a population in which each member of the subset has
an equal probability of being chosen to be a part of a sample .

-reliable method of obtaining information where every single member of a population is

chosen randomly, merely by chance.

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 -choosing a random sample isn’t as simple as just picking 100 people from 10,000 people.

-One has to be sure that one’s random sample is truly random and fairly homogenous.

Advantages

-is an unbiased surveying technique.

- helps in saving time and resource.

- used to avoid bias and other unwanted effects.

-equal probability of selection method.

‘Lottery method’ is one example of random sample where the selection of items entirely
depends on luck or probability

EXAMPLE
The assignment of 25 students out of 250 are chosen is an example of the lottery method at
school. Each of the 250 students would be assigned a number between 1 and 250, after which
25 of those numbers would be chosen at random.
The use of random numbers is also an alternative method that involves numbering the
population.

Limitations
• Not possible in a larger/infinite populations.
• Impossible to include specific units of population.

Systematic random sampling

In this method of sampling, the first unit of the sample selected at random and the subsequent
units are selected in a systematic way. If there are N units in the population and n units are to
be selected, then R = N/n ( R is known as the sampling interval). The first number is slected at

random then continues with a fixed R (Sampling Interval), when:

• population is finite & can be accurately listed or availability of sampling frame.

• Units of population are alphabetically /merit wise/ etc. arranged in a systematic manner.
Systematic sampling, after numbering N units in population from 1 to N is to select a sample of
n units by taking a unit at random from the first k unit and every kth thereafter.

Example: when a principal wants to select 6 teachers out of 60 of their staff for a particular
task. He will select after preparing list of all appointed teachers in alphabetical manner and
randomly select one, suppose no. 5 is selected randomly. Then he will select 15th, 25th, 35th

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45th & 55th.
Advantages –• Simplicity
• Practicality
• Speediness
Limitations –Randomly selected first element has influence on the selection of the other

• Not for heterogeneous & infinite population.

Stratified random sampling

When units in a sample are proportional to its population, the sample is called stratified.

• In stratified sampling researcher has to divide the population of N units into sub-populations
which is called strata like N1,N2,N3,……… Nn, respectively.
• The sample sizes within the strata are denoted by n1, n2, n3……. nn respectively.
• The usual stratification factors are gender, age, socio-economic status, educational
background, residence (rural/urban), occupation, religion, caste, general intelligence etc.

There are two types of stratified random sampling :

• Proportionate stratified random sampling Selection of a sample from each sampling unit is in
proportion to its size and unit.
• Disproportionate stratified random sampling The selection in which each unit is not
proportionate to the size of the units in population but depends upon researcher’s judgement
and convenience.

Advantages –
• when list of units or individuals in population are not available.
• This method is also suitable when cent- percent response is difficult to secure in desired time.

• Stratified random sampling provides more accurate results than simple random sampling if
stratifications results are homogeneous within strata.
Limitations –
• Can’t use stratified sampling method when population is heterogeneous in nature internally

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in sub-groups.
• Researchers can't confidently classify every member of the population into a subgroup.

Cluster random sampling

Cluster sampling is a method of probability sampling that isoften used to study large

populations, particularly those thatare widely geographically dispersed. Researchers usually

use pre-existing units such as schools or cities as their clusters.
• In case of infinite population or not reliable list of elements and geographically scattered
population, cluster sampling method is used.

• nature of the strata internally is heterogeneous.

• cluster is selected randomly i.e. a collective type of units like schools, cities etc. not single
elements i.e. individual student, teacher etc.

EXAMPLE: If a researcher is interested in the average reading level of all the seventh-graders in
his state. It would be very difficult to obtain a list of all seventh-graders and collect data from a
random sample spread across the state. However, he can easily obtain a list of all schools and
collect data from a subset of these, thus he decides to use the cluster sampling method.
• To survey the health status of primary school children of a state, researcher selects randomly
clusters of units under cluster sampling method.

Advantages

• Time- and cost-efficient especially for samples that are widely geographically spread and
would be difficult to properly sample through other method.

• High external validity, because cluster sampling uses randomization, if the population is
clustered properly, sample will reflect the characteristics of the larger population.

Limitations

• In comparison to simple random sampling internal validity is less strong.

• Cluster sampling is much more complex to plan than other forms of sampling.

Non probability sampling

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• In this technique the units of the population are selected at the discretion of the researcher
• Non-probability sampling is a method of selecting units from apopulation using a subjective
(i.e. non-random) method. Sincenon-probability sampling does not require a complete survey
frame,it is a fast, easy and inexpensive way of obtaining data.
• Non-probability sampling is defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher selects
samples based on the subjective judgment of the researcher rather than random selection.

Types of non probability sampling:

• Incidental, accidental or convenient sampling

• Purposive or judgemental sampling
• Quota sampling

• Snow ball or chain sampling

• Dense sampling
• Double sampling

All non-probability sampling will be used in qualitative research NOT quantitative research.

convenient sampling
Convenience sampling attempts to obtain a sample of convenient elements. Often, respondents
are selected because they happen to be in the right place at the right time.

● “Take them where you find them”, nonrandom

• Accidental or incidental is that type of sampling in which a researcher pick up data or
information's from those who fall into hand or present at the time of research. It continues the
process till the completion of the sample size.
• For instance, a person who is obtaining opinions for a political poll at a shopping mall by
randomly selecting passers-by is using a form of accidental sampling

• Convenience sampling (also called accidental sampling or haphazard sampling) is amethod of

non-probability sampling where researchers will choose their sample based solely on the
convenience. It becomes used when

• researchers are more concerned with the number of responses, and not the actual
representativeness of the sample.
• budgeting is tight and researchers want a low-cost method to collect data.

• researchers don’t have access to the full target population for a representative sample.
Advantages

• Time & cost effective

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• Uncomplicated method of data collection

Limitations
• Biasedness of researcher

• Low external validity

• Can’t generalize the entire population

Purposive or judgemental sampling

● Purposive sampling is a criterion-based sampling.
○ Establish criteria necessary for being included in study and find sample to meet criteria.
● Solution: Screening
○ Obtain a sample of larger population and then those subjects that are not members of the
desired population are screened or filtered out.
○ E.g., if you want to study smokers but can’t identify all smokers.

• Researcher uses his judgement and decides that which portion of thepopulation will
sufficiently serve the purpose of his problem and leaves other portion of the population.
• Researcher selects the units of population which/who provides richest information and which
are of most interest of researcher.
LIMITATIONS
• prone to bias.
• The findings of studies based on either convenience or purposive sampling can only be
generalized to the (sub)population from which the sample is drawn, and not to the entire
population.

Quota samling
• Quota sampling method is similar to stratified random sampling. But it is non-randomly
sample unit selection within each strata.
• First researcher has to identify the groups and sub-groups of interest, then determine the
number of people to be Included in each strata and finally select the sample of each group

• Quota sampling may be viewed as two-stage restricted judgmental sampling.

● Techniques
○ The first stage consist of developing control categories, or quotes, of population elements.
○ In the second stage, sample elements are selected based on convenience or judgment

EXAMPLE

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• If a population of 1000 students comprises of 700 boys and 300 girls then if we want to apply
Quota sampling technique, in the sample of 100, the 70 boys and 30 girls will be selected
according to researchers convenience not randomly

Advantages

○ It is easy to administer; it is fast to create and complete;

○ it is inexpensive
○ it takes into account population proportions, if desired and lastly can be used if probability
sampling techniques are not possible

Disadvantage
○ Selection bias
○ Cannot set quotas for all characteristics important to study

Snow ball sampling

• In this method participant who are voluntarily selected are asked to explore other people
with the same characteristics and may be willing to participate in the study

• an initial group of respondents are selected, usually at random.

• After being interviewed, these respondents are asked to identify others who belong to the
target population of interest.

• Subsequent respondents are selected based on the referrals.

• Thus sample becomes larger and larger. It is viewed as snowball is rolling down a hill, and
getting bigger and bigger in size.

• It is used when sampling frame is not available and it is difficult to locate the members for
inclusion in the sample.

• Good for hidden population which is not easily identifiable.

Dense sampling

• When the researcher select 50% or more from the population and takes a majority of
individuals having specified traits or characteristic which are of interest to him, it is called dense
sampling.

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• Example: When a researcher wants to study the job satisfaction among private doctors in a
city, suppose total no. of private doctors in that city are 1000.If he selects 50 % or 500 who are
continuously serving since 10 years, it will be the example of dense sampling.

Summery

References

Komal Kaushik Baral : types of sampling

Aldman DG: practical statistics

Pagano, M. and Gauvreau, K. 2000. Principles of Biostatistics...

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 Thank you!!!
The end.

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