Sampling Techniques

Mrs.
Margaret Stevani, S.Pd, M.Pd

[email protected]
 Learning Objectives
 Define Population, Sample, and Sampling.
 Identify the Purpose of Sampling.
 Compare and Contrast a Population and a Sample.
 Define Probability and Non-probability Sampling.
 Identify the Types of Probability and Non-
Probability Sampling.
 Compare the Advantages and Disadvantages of
specific Probability and Non-probability Sampling.
 What is Sampling?
Population: the entire group under study as
defined by research objectives. Sometimes
called the “universe.”
Sampling is a process of selecting a portion or
subset of the designated population to represent the
entire population.
 Sample is a set of elements that make up the
population. Population
 Why Sampling?
To Ger Information About Large Populations
with
 Less Costs
 Less field Time
 More Accuracy i.e. Can Do A Better Job
of Data Collection& Analysis
 When it’s Impossible to study the whole
population
Types of Sampling
 Probability Samples

 Every unit of the population has the Equal Probability o

being included in the sample.
 Chance Mechanism is used in the selection process.
 Eliminates Bias in the selection process
 Advantages Of Probability Sampling
1. Information from a representative cross-section
2. Sampling error can be computed
3. Results are Projectable to the Total Population.
 Disadvantages Of Probability Sampling
1. More expansive than non-probability samples
2. Take more time to Design and Execute.
 Non-probability Samples

• Every unit of the population Does not have Equal

Probability of being included in the sample.
• Open the selection Bias
• Advantages of Non-probability Samples
1. Less Cost than probability
2. Canbe conducted more quickly
3. Produces samples that are reasonably representative
 Disadvantages of Non-Probability Samples

1.Sampling error cannot be computed

2.Representativeness of the sample is not known
3.Results cannot be Projected to the population.
4. Not appropriate data collection methods for most statistical
 Types Probability Sampling Methods
Simple Random Sampling
A probability sample is a sample in which every
element of the population has a known and equal
probability of being selected into the sample.
Probability of Selection=Sample Size (n)
Population Size (N)
• Blind Draw Method (e.g. names “placed in a hat” and
then drawn randomly)
• Random Numbers Method (all items in the sampling
frame given numbers, numbers then drawn using table or
computer program)
• Advantages:
• Known and equal chance of selection
• Easy method when there is an electronic database
 Systematic Sampling
 An initial starting point is selected by a random
process, and then every kth number on the list is
selected
 Probability of Selection (K) =Sample Size (n)
Population Size (N)
 The number of population elements between the units
selected for the sample
Advantages of systematic sampling
Typically simpler to implement than SRS
Can provide a more uniform coverage
 Potential disadvantage of systematic sampling
Can produce a bias if there is a systematic pattern in the
1 16 31 46 Example
2 17 32 47 Total Population(N)= 60
3 18 33 48
4 19 34 49
Want Sample of 10
5 20 35 50 Interval Size(k) =60/10 = 6
6 21 36 51
7 22 37 52 Select Random Start b/n 1 & 6
8 23 38 53
9 24 39 54
Eg. 5
10 25 40 55 Select Every Sixth Unit
11 26 41 56
12 27 42 57  First Randomly selected sample
13 28 43 58
14 29 44 59
15 30 45 60
 Stratified Sampling:
The population is separated into homogeneous
groups/segments/strata, according to some criterion,
such as geographic location, grade level, age, or
income, and sub-samples are randomly selected
from each strata.
The results are then combined to get the picture of
the total population.
It allows the researcher to allocate a larger sample
size to strata with more variance and smaller sample
size to strata with less variance. Thus, for the same
sample size, more precision is achieved.
Advantages
guarantees coverage across strata
can over-sample some strata in order to
obtain precise within-stratum estimates
Disadvantages
with unequal sampling probabilities,
sampling weights must be included in
analysis
more complicated
requires special software
 Clusters Sampling
The population is divided into subgroups (clusters)
like families. A simple random sample is taken of
the subgroups and then all members of the cluster
selected are surveyed.
 Example :
In cluster sampling the sample units contain groups
of elements (clusters) instead of individual members
or items in the population.eg:- Rather than listing all
elementary school children in a given city and random
selecting 15 per cent these students for the sample, a
researcher lists all of the elementary schools in the
city, selects at random 15 percent of these clusters of
units, and uses all of the children in the selected
schools as the sample.
 Advantages
• More convenient for geographically dispersed
populations
• Reduced travel costs to contact sample elements
• Simplified administration of the survey
• Unavailability of sampling frame prohibits using
other random sampling methods
 Disadvantages
• Statistically less efficient when the cluster
elements are similar
• Costs and problems of statistical analysis are
greater than for simple random sampling
Non-Probability
Sampling
 Convenience Sample
1.Convenience/Accidental sampling: It means selecting
sample units in a ‘1 hit and miss fashion’. Example:
interviewing people whom we happen to meet. Involves on
selecting whatever sampling units are conveniently
available.
Example A teacher may select students in his class.
Also known as Accidental sampling because the
respondents whom the researcher meets accidentally are
included in the sample.
 Advantages
 Moderatecost, Commonly used/understood
 Sample will meet a specific objective
 Disadvantages
 • Purposive or Judgment Sampling
• Iis deliberate selection of sample units that conform
to some pre-determined criteria. This is also known
as judgment sampling. This involves selection of
cases which we judge as the most appropriate ones
for the given study. It is based on the judgment of
the researcher or some expert. It does not aim at
searching a cross section of a population.
  Quota Sampling
This is a form of convenient sampling involving
selection of quota groups of accessible sampling units by
traits such as Sex, Social class etc. In specific
proportions, each investigator may be given an
assignment of quota groups specified by the pre-
determined traits in specific proportions. He can then
select accessible persons belonging to those groups in
the area assigned to him.
Quota sampling is therefore, a method of stratified
sampling in which the selection within strata is non-
random. Quota sampling is used in studies like marketing
survey, opinion poll, and readership survey which do not
aim at precision but to get quickly some crude results.
 Snow Ball Sampling:
 Is a technique of building up a list or a sample of a
special population by using an initial set of its
members as informants. For example a researcher
wants to study the problem faced by African
Migrants in another country, Say, he may identify an
initial group of Migrants through some source like
Embassy, Then he can ask each one of them to
supply names of others known to them and continue
this procedure until he gets an exhaustive list from
which he can draw a sample or make a census
survey.
 Technique Strengths Weaknesses
Non-Probability Sampling Least expensive, least Selection bias, sample not
time-consuming, most representative, not recommended for
Convenience sampling convenient descriptive or causal research
Judgmental sampling Low cost, convenient, Does not allow generalization,
not time-consuming subjective
Quota sampling Sample can be controlled Selection bias, no assurance of
for certain characteristics representativeness
Snowball sampling Can estimate rare Time-consuming
characteristics

Probability Sampling Easily understood, results Difficult to construct sampling frame,

Simple random sampling projectable expensive, lower precision, no
(SRS) assurance of representativeness.
Systematic sampling Can increase Can decrease representativeness
representativeness, Easier to
implement than SRS,
sampling frame not
necessary
Stratified sampling Include all important Difficult to select relevant
subpopulations, precision stratification variables, not feasible to
stratify on many variables, expensive
Cluster sampling Easy to implement, cost Imprecise, difficult to compute and
effective interpret results
 Sampling Errors
 Data from nonrandom samples are not appropriate
for analysis by inferential statistical methods.
 Sampling Error occurs when the sample is not
representative of the population
 Non-Sampling Errors
• Missing Data, Recording, Data Entry, and
Analysis Errors
• Poorly conceived concepts , unclear definitions,
and defective questionnaires
• Response errors occur when people so not know,
will not say, or overstate in their answers
 How many is enough?
 For Probability Sample,
 The Size of the Sample needs to be such that it
gives reasonable confidence of generalizability to the
wider population. In this sense, the answer to this
question is a statistical one. It depends on the size of the
wider population, and what sample size is needed to achieve
particular degrees of confidence about its representativeness
In the case of Non-probability Sampling,
No ‘correct’ number of participants. Instead it is more
useful to think in terms of the richness of the data in
terms of answering (or refining) the researcher’s core
questions.
 Conclusion
 Sampling can be a powerful tool for accurately
measuring opinions and characteristics of a population.
However, there is a genuine potential for misuse of this
tool by researchers who do not understand the
limitations of various sampling procedures.
 Non- probability sampling techniques can provide
valuable information but the results cannot be
generalized to a larger population nor can statistics
indicating the reliability of the results be calculated
 Well conducted probability samples provide the researcher
with the ability to gather information from a relatively small
number of members of a large population and accurately
generalize the results to the entire population.
 Enable the re-searcher to calculate statistics that indicate
the precision of the data.
 The researcher goals inform which sampling method is
best for the research to be conducted.
 The main choice in regards to sample method choice is
whether or not the researcher wants to generalize the
findings from the sample to the whole of the population
being studied.
 Being aware of possible errors due to the sample method
chosen is also very important because giving possible
errors within the results section allows the study to be
regarded as valid.
 Many sample method choices are available; the researcher
must choose the method that is right for the study.
 THANK YOU

Taken fromResearchGate: Margaret Stevani