SAMPLING

Population and sample

Population :- A population can be defined as
including all people or items with the
characteristic one wishes to understand

Sample :- it is the small unit of population to

enumerate all the characteristics of
population.
Types of samples – it is of two types
i) Random sample
ii) Non random sample
Sampling unit:- the individual item selected
from population for sample is called sampling
unit

Sampling frame:- it is the list of all the

elements that are in the population. When the
population is defined according to the
characteristic under study it is known as
frame consisting of the sampling units in the
population. It is used to select sampling unit
Sampling
Sampling is the processes of collection sample
from the population. When the study of all
unit one by one is not possible in such case
some units are selected from sampling frame
according to some rule, such method of
collecting sample is called sampling. And the
small part of population is called sample.
Merits and Demerits of sample survey
Merits
It is less expensive
Less time consuming
Requires smaller number of resources.
It prevents destruction
Only method for large population
Demerits
it is not suitable method if information about all
units of population is required.
It is not suitable for rare and historical events.
Parameter and Statistics
The statistical measurement drawn from
population is called parameter where as
if it is drawn from sample is called
statistics

If are N values of the

population then
(a) Population mean

(b) Population variance

Types of sampling

Probability sampling, also known as

random sampling, is a kind of sample
selection where randomization is used
instead of deliberate choice. Each member of
the population has a known, non-zero chance
of being selected.
Non-probability sampling techniques are
where the researcher deliberately picks items
or individuals for the sample based on non-
random factors such as convenience,
geographic availability, or costs.
Probability sampling methods

Simple random sampling

Systematic sampling
 Stratified sampling
Cluster sampling
Non-probability sampling methods

 Convenience sampling
 Quota sampling
Purposive sampling
Snowball or referral sampling
1. Simple random sampling
 With simple random sampling, every element in the
population has an equal chance of being selected as part of
the sample. It’s something like picking a name out of a hat.
Simple random sampling can be done by anonymizing the
population – e.g. by assigning each item or person in the
population a number and then picking numbers at random.
 Advantages: Simple random sampling is easy to do and
cheap. Designed to ensure that every member of the
population has an equal chance of being selected, it reduces
the risk of bias compared to non-random sampling.
 disadvantages: It offers no control for the researcher and
may lead to unrepresentative groupings being picked by
chance.
Probability sampling method
2. Systematic sampling
 With systematic sampling the random selection only applies to the
first item chosen. A rule then applies so that every nth item or
person after that is picked.
 Best practice is to sort your list in a random way to ensure that
selections won’t be accidentally clustered together. This is commonly
achieved using a random number generator. If that’s not available
you might order your list alphabetically by first name and then pick
every fifth name to eliminate bias, for example.
 Next, you need to decide your sampling interval – for example, if
your sample will be 10% of your full list, your sampling interval is
one in 10 – and pick a random start between one and 10 – for
example three. This means you would start with person number
three on your list and pick every tenth person.
 Advantages: Systematic sampling is efficient and straightforward,
especially when dealing with populations that have a clear order. It
ensures a uniform selection across the population.
 Disadvantages : There’s a potential risk of introducing bias if
there’s an unrecognized pattern in the population that aligns with
the sampling interval.
3. Stratified
 Stratified sampling
sampling involves random selection within predefined
groups. It’s a useful method for researchers wanting to determine
what aspects of a sample are highly correlated with what’s being
measured. They can then decide how to subdivide (stratify) it in a
way that makes sense for the research.
 For example, you want to measure the height of students at a college
where 80% of students are female and 20% are male. We know that
gender is highly correlated with height, and if we took a simple
random sample of 200 students (out of the 2,000 who attend the
college), we could by chance get 200 females and not one male. This
would bias our results and we would underestimate the height of
students overall. Instead, we could stratify by gender and make sure
that 20% of our sample (40 students) are male and 80% (160
students) are female.
 Advantages: Stratified sampling enhances the representation of all
identified subgroups within a population, leading to more accurate
results in heterogeneous populations.
 Disadvantages: This method requires accurate knowledge about the
population’s stratification, and its design and execution can be more
intricate than other methods.
4. Cluster sampling
With cluster sampling, groups rather than individual
units of the target population are selected at random
for the sample. These might be pre-existing groups,
such as people in certain zip codes or students
belonging to an academic year.
Cluster sampling can be done by selecting the entire
cluster, or in the case of two-stage cluster sampling, by
randomly selecting the cluster itself, then selecting at
random again within the cluster.
Advantages: Cluster sampling is economically
beneficial and logistically easier when dealing with vast
and geographically dispersed populations.
Disadvantages: Due to potential similarities within
clusters, this method can introduce a greater sampling
error compared to other methods.
Non-probability sampling methods
1. Convenience sampling
People or elements in a sample are selected on the basis
of their accessibility and availability. If you are doing a
research survey and you work at a university, for
example, a convenience sample might consist of
students or co-workers who happen to be on campus
with open schedules who are willing to take your
questionnaire.
This kind of sample can have value, especially if it’s
done as an early or preliminary step, but significant bias
will be introduced.
Advantages: Convenience sampling is the most
straightforward method, requiring minimal planning,
making it quick to implement.
Disadvantages: Due to its non-random nature, the
method is highly susceptible to biases, and the results
are often lacking in their application to the real world.
2. Quota sampling
Like the probability-based stratified sampling method,
this approach aims to achieve a spread across the target
population by specifying who should be recruited for a
survey according to certain groups or criteria.
For example, your quota might include a certain number
of males and a certain number of females. Alternatively,
you might want your samples to be at a specific income
level or in certain age brackets or ethnic groups.
Advantages: Quota sampling ensures certain subgroups
are adequately represented, making it great for when
random sampling isn’t feasible but representation is
necessary.
disadvantages: The selection within each quota is non-
random and researcher’s discretion can influence the
representation, which both strongly increase the risk of
bias.
3. Purposive sampling

Participants for the sample are chosen consciously by

researchers based on their knowledge and
understanding of the research question at hand or
their goals.
Also known as judgment sampling, this technique is
unlikely to result in a representative sample, but it is
a quick and fairly easy way to get a range of results
or responses.
Advantages: Purposive sampling targets specific
criteria or characteristics, making it ideal for studies
that require specialized participants or specific
conditions.
Disadvantages: It’s highly subjective and based on
researchers’ judgment, which can introduce biases
and limit the study’s real-world application.
4. Snowball or referral sampling

With this approach, people recruited to be part of a

sample are asked to invite those they know to take
part, who are then asked to invite their friends and
family and so on. The participation radiates through a
community of connected individuals like a snowball
rolling downhill.
Advantages: Especially useful for hard-to-reach or
secretive populations, snowball sampling is effective
for certain niche studies.
Disadvantages: The method can introduce bias due
to the reliance on participant referrals, and the choice
of initial seeds can significantly influence the final
sample.