DESCRIBING SAMPLE

SIZE AND SAMPLING

PROCEDURES

RENZEL JOYCE R. BONDOC

SAMPLING is securing some of the elements of a population.

An element is a member of a population who can provide

information for the population.

A population consists of the total elements about which you can

make inferences based on the data gathered from a determined
sample size.
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION

A SAMPLE (n) is a selection of respondents for a research

study to represent the total population (N). Making a
decision about sample size for a survey is important.
Too large for a sample may mean a waste of resources,
both human and financial. On the other hand, too small
a sample decreases the utilization of the results.
 SLOVIN’S FORMULA IN DETERMINING
THE SAMPLE SIZE
The following information is needed to be able to determine the sample size using the Slovin’s
formula.
 Population (N) consists of members of a group that a researcher is interested in studying the
members of a group that usually have common or similar characteristics.
 Margin of error is the allowable error margin in research. A confidence interval of 95%
gives a margin of error of 5%; a 98% gives a margin of error of 2%; a 99% confidence
interval gives a 1% margin of error.
The following are some reasons for the use of samples:
1. A sample saves time compared to doing a complete census which requires
more time.
2. A sample saves money because it is less costly than conducting a complete
census.
3. A sample allows more particular attention to be given to a number of
elements than when doing a census.
4. There is a greater error in reporting results of a census caused by
inexperienced interviewers. There is less sampling error in a survey.
5. Some research studies in the industry may only be performed on a sample
of items. For example, testing the length of time a battery will last.
*SAMPLE SIZE FORMULA AND
EXERCISES
Sampling procedures
Sampling is a formal process of choosing the correct
subgroup called a sample from a population to
participate in a research study. The subgroup shall be
the representative of the large group from where they
were selected. To create a sample, you may follow any
of the following categories of sampling techniques:
probability sampling and non-probability sampling
schemes.
 PROBABILITY SAMPLING PROCEDURE

 SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING – This is the most frequently used type of

probability sampling technique. This is characterized by the idea that the chance
of selection is the same for every member of the population.
for example, assume that you want to conduct a survey of 100 senior high
school students in a certain private school. To get the desired sample size of 100,
you can do the selection process, either manually or electronically, ensuring that
each student in the population has an equal chance of being drawn from the
population of senior high school students in school.
 Systematic Random Sampling - Systematic random sampling follows specific steps and
procedures in doing the random selection of the samples. It requires a list of the
elements and every nth element in the list is drawn for inclusion in the sample. If for
instance, you have a list of 5,000 persons and you need a sample of 500, here are the
steps to follow
 1. divide the number of elements in the population by the desired sample size. In this
case, you divide 5000 by 500 which gives a value of 10.
 2. choose a random number between one and the value you obtained from step 1. in this
example, you choose a number between 1 and 10, let’s say you choose 5.
 3. starting with the number you picked which is 5, you take every 10th (from step 1) and
you use 5 as your starting point, thus, you have select the samples whose numbers are
5,15,25,35 and 45 and so on until you reach the desired sample size.
 Stratified random sampling - in this type of probability sampling procedure,
the population is first divided into two or more mutually exclusive categories
based on your variables of interest in the research study. The population is
organized into homogeneous subsets before drawing the samples. With
stratified random sampling, the population is divided into subpopulation
called strata. If your variable of interest is economic status based on the
family combined income level, you can divide the population into strata of
different income levels (low, average, high income with specific numerical value
of annual family income per level). When these have been determined, you
may draw a sample from each stratum with a separate draw from each of the
different strata. The sample sizes within the strata can now be determined.
The primary advantage of this technique is that cases from each stratum of the
population are given importance, as in the other groupings.
To illustrate the procedure to be followed in this probability sampling technique -
suppose you're interested in how frequent internet use varies by level among
junior high school students, you need to ensure that an appropriate number of
students are drawn from all levels of the junior High School track.
In this case, you have to stratify by level (first year, second year, third year and
fourth year). When these have been determined, you may draw a sample sizes
within the strata should be pre-determined.
To illustrate the procedure to be followed in this probability sampling, suppose
you are interested in how frequent internet use varies by level among junior high
school students. To explore this inquiry, rather than taking a simple random
sample from the school population you need to ensure that appropriate number of
students are drawn from each level in proportion to the percentage of the
population as a whole.
 Cluster Sampling
 Most large scale surveys use cluster sampling method. Cluster sampling is used when the
target respondents in a research study is spread across a geographical location. In this
method, the population is divided into groups called clusters which are heterogeneous in
nature and are mutually exclusive. A random sampling technique is used on relevant
clusters to be included in the study.
 Cluster sampling may be classified as either single-stage, two-stage cluster sampling or
there also exists multi-stage cluster sampling. In single-stage cluster sampling, all the
members of each of the selected clusters are used in the sampling process. In two-stage
cluster sampling, a subset of elements within each selected cluster is randomly selected for
inclusion in the sample. In multi-single sampling, more than two steps are taken in
selecting clusters from clusters. Examples are those which consider geographical clustering
as provinces, towns or cities. Thus, multi-stage sampling takes a large population into
account.
 Non-Probability Sampling Procedures
 There are situations when the researcher cannot employ random selection. In
cases where probability sampling is not applicable, you may consider some
non-probability sampling alternatives.
 Convenience Sampling
 This is a method of selecting samples that are available and are
capable of participating in a research study on a current issue. This method
is sometimes called haphazard or availability sampling. An example would
be conducting a survey or interview on a captive audience inside a mall or
park or school to obtain a quick response of public opinion on an issue about
election of public officials.
Snowball Sampling
 Snowball sampling is a technique where the researcher identifies a key information
about a research of interest and then ask that respondent to refer or identify another
respondent who can participate in the study. The identification of the samples follows a
multiplier effect, that is, one person is asked to refer the researcher to another respondent
and so on. This technique is applicable when researchers find difficulty in locating special
numbers of a population. The chain referral procedure allows the researcher to reach the
desired samples. For example, an ethnographic research of the indigenous groups called
Mangyans who are living in the island of Mindoro used snowball sampling to locate
respondents. Based on this unpublished research study, the total population of the eight (8)
ethnic groups called Mangyans may be around 100,000 according to official records. But
according to the researcher, they are difficult to locate because of distance (remote areas)
and some have little contact with the lowlanders or the outside world.
 Purposive Sampling

 Purposive sampling sometimes called judgmental or subjective sampling

employs a procedure in which samples are chosen for a special purpose. It
may involve members of a limited group of population. For example, you may
want to conduct a study on why Grade 11 students chose the Voc-Tech track
over the Academic track. You, therefore, find your samples and your first
question would be “Are you planning to go to the university?” Those who will
say “No” would not be included in the study.
 Quota Sampling
 Quota Sampling is gathering a representative sample from a group based on
certain characteristics of the population is divided into specific groups. If the
specific condition, for example, is for both genders, males and females are to be
represented equally in the sample group, then if 60 representatives are needed,
then you get 30 males and 30 females from each group.

 The main difference between stratified random sampling and quota

sampling can be explained in a way that in quota sampling, you use non-
random selection.