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Lecture 1

This document introduces survey methods and sampling theory, emphasizing the importance of sampling as a scientific method for obtaining information about a whole from a representative part. It covers basic definitions, concepts, and the advantages and disadvantages of sample surveys compared to complete enumeration. The learning outcomes include defining terms, discussing sample surveys, and explaining their planning and execution.

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Jorams Barasa
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15 views4 pages

Lecture 1

This document introduces survey methods and sampling theory, emphasizing the importance of sampling as a scientific method for obtaining information about a whole from a representative part. It covers basic definitions, concepts, and the advantages and disadvantages of sample surveys compared to complete enumeration. The learning outcomes include defining terms, discussing sample surveys, and explaining their planning and execution.

Uploaded by

Jorams Barasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Study Session 1: Introduction to survey methods and sampling

theory

Introduction
Sampling is a scientific method of selecting and using a representative part (Sample) of a
whole to seek the truth about the whole. Sampling is used extensively, consciously or
unconsciously in everyday life to obtain the required information or to carry out a course of
action.

By using a few millilitres of a patient’s blood sample, a medical doctor obtains the quantity
of malaria parasites in the blood system. Also, a market researcher makes use of a fraction of
consumers of a product to gauge the acceptability of the product.

Sample survey in its simplest terms deals with collection of information to satisfy human
everyday needs. Such needs could be in agriculture, population and labour etc.

Learning Outcomes for Study Session 1


At the end of this study, you should be able to:

1.1 Define some terms and concepts


1.2 Discuss sample surveys
1.3 Explain the planning and execution of sample survey
1.4 Identify some activities that could involve sample survey

1.1 Basic Definitions and concepts


There are some basic definitions and concepts you need to understand to facilitate a robust
understanding of this study. Here are some.

Sample: This is finite sequence of elements drawn from the population,

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{ }
U denoted by S = U i1 , U i 2 ,LU in ( S ) i j and denotes the unit drawn at the j th draw, n( s) . This

is called the sample size.

Sampling is a scientific method of selecting and using a representative part (Sample) of a


whole to seek the truth about the whole. Sampling is used extensively, consciously or
unconsciously in everyday life to obtain the required information or to carry out a course of
action.

Sampling Units: These are the elementary units of a population from which a sample is
selected.

Sampling Scheme: This is a method of selecting a sample from a population, e.g. Simple
random sampling, systematic sampling, etc.

Sampling Design: This is defined as the collection of all possible samples together with their
probability of selection.

Suppose S = {s}: a collection of all possible samples from a population. Let P = {P( s ) } be the

probability measure defined on S such that for all s ∈ S, you will have P ( s ) ≥ 0, ∑ P ( s ) = 1 .

D = {S , P} This is called the sampling design.

Elementary Unit or Unit: This is an element or a group of elements from which the required
information is obtained, e.g. household, farm, person, etc. A reporting unit is the unit that
actually supplies the required information, e.g. a head of a household may be a reporting unit
in a household survey.

Population or Universe: This is a collection of units having some properties/characteristics


in common. A population is finite if the number of units making up the population is finite;
and infinite if the number of units in the population is infinite.

Population Parameter or Parameter: This is a function, φ (Y1 , Y2 , ...YN ) ,defined on the

population values. Yi is the value of the characteristic of interest for the ith (i = 1, 2, ...N )
population unit? Example of a parameter is the population mean, total, proportion or ratio.

( )
Estimator: This is any real valued function φˆ y1 , y 2 ... yn( s ) defined on the parameter φ . The

value of an estimator for a given sample is called an estimate.

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( )
Sampling Strategy: The pair, sampling design and estimator, T D , φ is called a sampling
ˆ

strategy.

Accuracy: This is a measure of closeness of an estimate to its parameter. This is judged by


MSE (the expected value of the squared error loss function) and hence includes the effect of
bias.

Precision: This is a measure of how close an estimate is to its average value over all possible
samples. This is judged by the sampling variance and, therefore, excludes the effect of bias.

Sampling error: This is the error that occurs as a result of using a sample to make inference
about the population. The actual measure of this error is the sampling variance. The square
root of the sampling variance is the sampling error.

Enumeration Area (EA): Is a small area, generally used as a sampling unit, with well-
defined and identifiable foundations carved out of larger area of land.

In-Text Question
________ is defined as the collection of all possible samples together with their probability of
selection.

A. Precision
B. Sampling Strategy
C. Sample Design
D. Estimator
In-Text Answer
D. Sample Design

1.2 Sample Survey


A sample survey is defined as the collection and examination of data from a sample in order
to make inferences about the whole. This is contrary to a census, which is a complete
enumeration or survey of the whole units of enquiring.

Hence, sample survey theory deals with the process of sample selection, data collection,
estimation of the population characteristics using the sample data to collect and determining

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the accuracy of the estimates. A population characteristic is defined as any quantity relating
to the population.

Information on a population may be collected in two ways. Either every unit in the population
is enumerated (called complete enumeration, or census) or enumeration is limited to only a
part or a sample selected from the population (called sample enumeration or sample
survey).

1.2.1 Advantages of Sample Survey


1. In destructive investigations, such as determination of the mean, Life-time of electric
bulbs or the shelf life of some perishable items, it is better to use sample survey rather
than complete examination.
2. Sample survey saves time, labour and cost, especially when these resources are
limited, than a census where a large number of these resources is needed.
3. Data can be collected and analysed quickly from a sample than from the entire
population.
4. There is a greater and more efficient supervision of field staff in a sample survey
resulting in the collection of more reliable data.
5. Sample survey makes use of better qualified staff and specialized equipment.
6. It has greater subject coverage and less observational error than census.

1.2.2 Disadvantages of Sample Survey


1. Sample survey is not appropriate when information is required for every unit of enquiry.

2. It is less accurate in small area classification where data are needed for each subdivision
of the population.

In-Text Question
Sample survey saves time, labour and cost, especially when these resources are limited. True
or False

In-Text Answer
True

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