SAMPLING METHODS

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 Course objectives:
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 At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the different sampling terminologies
2. Differentiate between probability and Non-Probability sampling
3. Understand the importance of a representative sample
5. Enumerate advantages and limitations of the different
sampling methods
 INTRODUCTION
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 Sampling involves the selection of a number of a study

units from a defined population.
 Sampling: A process by which we study a small part of a
population (sample) to make judgments about the entire
population
 The population is too large for us to consider collecting
information from all its members.
 Cont…
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A main concern in sampling:

 Ensure that the sample represents the population, and

 The findings can be generalized

 Advantages of samples

1. Cost- sampling saves time, labour and money

2. Quality of data - more time and effort can be spent on
getting reliable data on each individual included in the
sample.
3. Due to the use of better trained personnel, more careful
supervision and processing a sample can actually
produce precise results.
 Common terms used in sampling
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 Reference population (source population)- the population of interest, to which the

investigators would like to generalize the results of the study, and from which a
representative sample is to be drawn.
 Study population- The actual group in which the study is conducted = Sample
 Sampling/study unit- the unit of selection in the sampling process. e,g. persons, housing
units, health facilities, districts
 Sampling frame - the list of all the units in the reference population, from which a sample
is to be picked.
 Sampling methods (Two broad
divisions)
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1. Probability Sampling Methods

 Subjects are selected using the process of random selection
 Chances of selecting a subject are known and equal

 Therefore representativeness and generalization is possible

2. Non-probability Sampling Methods

 No random selection (unrepresentative of the given

population)
 Chances of selecting a subject are not known
 Non-probability sampling methods are:
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A) Convenience sampling: is a method in which for

convenience sake the study units that happen to be
available at the time of data collection are selected.
B) Quota sampling: is a method that ensures that a certain
number of sample units from different categories with
specific characteristics are represented.
 Probability sampling methods are:
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A. Simple random sampling (SRS)

To select a simple random sample you need to:

 Make a numbered list of all the units in the population from
which you want to draw a sample (sampling frame)
 Each unit on the list should be numbered in sequence from1to N
(where N is the size of the population)
 Select the required number of study units, using a “lottery”
method or a table of random numbers or Computer programs
 Cont…
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Advantages of Simple random sampling

 Easy to understand
Disadvantages of Simple random sampling
 Requires a list of the population (sampling frame)
 Difficult if the reference population is dispersed
 Used in situations where the number of sampling units is
relatively small
 Cost may be prohibitive (large area)
 B) Systematic Sampling
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 Individuals are chosen at regular intervals (for example,

every kth =N/n) .
 Selection done systematically rather than randomly
 The first unit (starting point) to be selected is taken at
random from among the first k units.
 Cont…
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 For example, Determine units available

for sampling: i.e. Study population of
100 individuals
 Decide on sample size: i.e. Sample 25
individuals
 Calculate sampling interval 100/25=4
 Start at random student between 1 and
4, i.e. blindly picking one out of four
pieces of paper, numbered 1 to 4.
 If number 3 is picked, every fourth
student will be included in the sample,
starting with student number 3, until 25
students are selected.
 The numbers selected would be
3,7,11,15,etc.
 Cont…
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Advantages of Systematic Sampling:

 Systematic sampling is usually less time consuming and easier to perform
than simple random sampling.
 Conducted without a sampling frame
E.g. In patients attending a health center, where it is not possible to predict
in advance who will be attending.
Disadvantages of Systematic sampling:
 If there is any sort of cyclic pattern or periodic trends in the ordering of the
subjects,
 C) Stratified Sampling
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 It is appropriate when the distribution of the characteristic to

be studied is strongly affected by certain variable
(heterogeneous population).
 The population is first divided into groups (strata)
 A separate sample is then taken independently from each
stratum, by simple random or systematic sampling based on
Proportional allocation
For example:
 Urban and rural facilities
 Community and prison patients
 D) Cluster sampling
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 Selection of the required sample is done on groups of study units (clusters)

instead of each study unit individually.
 The sampling unit is a cluster, and the sampling frame is a list of these
clusters.
 Sometimes it is too expensive to carry out SRS
 Population may be large and scattered.
 Complete list of the study population unavailable
 Travel costs can become expensive if interviewers have to survey
people from one end of the country to the other.
 Cluster sampling is the most widely used to reduce the cost
 Cluster sampling…
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Procedure
 The reference population (homogeneous) is divided into clusters.

 These clusters are often geographic units (eg districts, villages, etc.)

 A sample of such clusters is selected

 All the units in the selected clusters are studied

 No units from non-selected clusters are included in the sample—they are

represented by those from selected clusters.

It is preferable to select a large number of small clusters rather than a small
number of large clusters.
Example: In a school based study,
 Cluster sampling…
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Advantages:
 Cost reduction

 A list of all the individual study units in the reference population is

not required.
 It is sufficient to have a list of clusters.

Disadvantages:
 It is based on the assumption that the characteristic to be studied is

uniformly distributed throughout the reference population, which

may not always be the case.
 Hence, sampling error is usually higher than

for a SRS of the same size.

 Not have total control over the final sample size
 E) Multi-stage sampling
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 This method is appropriate when the reference population is

large and widely scattered .
 Selection is done in stages until the final sampling unit (eg.,
households or persons) are arrived at.
 The primary sampling unit (PSU) is the sampling unit (usually
large size) in the first sampling stage.
 The secondary sampling unit (SSU) is the sampling unit in the
second sampling stage, etc.
 Example - The PSUs could be kebeles and the SSUs could be
households.
 E) Multi-stage sampling…
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Advantage:
 No cost of preparing sampling frame
Disadvantage:
 Sampling error is increased compared with a simple
random sample.
 Multistage sampling gives less precise estimates than SRS
for the same sample size, but the reduction in cost
usually far outweighs this, and allows for a larger sample
size.
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