02/02/2025 Investigating the prevalence and Outc

omes of Self-Reported Maternal Com

 SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Presented
By

Mairaj Hafeez

02/02/2025
 Outline
 Sampling
 Sampling techniques
 Sampling in Qualitative studies
 Sampling in Quantitative studies
Objectives
• Define sampling.
• Explain sampling techniques.
• Describe Sampling in Qualitative studies.
• Explain Sampling in Quantitative studies.
 Sampling
• Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of
individuals or items from a larger population, in order
to make inferences about the characteristics of the
population as a whole.

• The main purpose of selecting a sample is to obtain

data that can be generalized to the larger population.
 Why sampling
• Samples can be studies more quickly than
entire population
• A study sample is less expensive than entire
population
• A study of an entire population is impossible
• Sample results are more accurate than results
based on population
• Samples saves a lot of time
 Sampling techniques
• Sampling techniques are a set of procedures used to
select a subset of individuals or sample from a larger
population. There are two main types of sampling
techniques:
a. Probability sampling
b. Non-probability sampling
 Probability sampling involves selecting a sample in a
way that each member of the population has an
equal chance of being selected.
 Simple random sampling
• SRS is that in which each and every member has
equal probability of being selected for study.
• It is also known unrestricted random sampling.

– We have to select sample from population in

different methods most two methods are
– lottery method
– random number method.
Simple random sampling
 Systematic Random sampling
• Systematic sampling is one of the most common
sampling methods used in research and statistical
analysis.
• Entire population is arranged in a particular order, i.e.
ascending.
• First of all, a sampling interval given by K= N/n.
• It involves selecting a sample of data from a larger
population by selecting every nth or kth items is
selected in the list for inclusion in sample.
– E.g. we have to select 200 X rays from 3600 X rays.
– 3600/200 = 18th (every 18th number select.)
Systematic sampling

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 Stratified sampling
• Stratified sampling involves dividing the population
into subgroups, or strata, and then randomly select
individuals from each group.
• Divided population into subgroups (called strata)
based on relevant characteristic.
• E.g. gender, age range, job role, income level, or
education level
• The purpose of stratified sampling is to increase the
representativeness of the sample by ensuring that
each stratum is well-represented in the sample.
Stratified sampling
 Cluster (area) sampling
• Cluster sampling is a type of sampling method that
involves dividing a larger population into smaller
groups, or clusters or areas, and then randomly
selecting some of those clusters to be included in the
sample.
• The cluster is actually representative of the entire
population
 Cluster sampling…
• Once the clusters have been selected, researchers can then
choose to include all members of the selected clusters in
the study, or they can use another sampling method to
select a smaller subset of individuals within each cluster.
 Non probability sampling
• Sometimes true random sampling, is not
possible because of time, cost, and ethical
consideration or in the situation where the
study population is not well-defined.
• Suppose you are wanted to study the dietary
pattern of homelessness individuals, and you
know there is no list of homelessness
individuals.
• Because the sampling frame of such
individuals is not defined, so in this case
random sampling is not appropriate.
 Non probability sampling…

• In non-probability procedures all members of

population do not have equal chance of being
selected, it may not be assumed that the sample fully
represents the target population.
 Convenience sampling
• Convenient sampling is a type of sampling in which
respondents or participants or subjects are selected
for study based on their accessibility (availability)
easy for participation.
– E.g. selecting sample from your own area as
convenient
• This method of sampling is often used when the
researcher has limited time, resources, or access to
potential participants.
Non probability methods
Convenience sampling…
 Quota Sampling
• This involves selecting a specific number of
individuals from different categories to ensure a
diverse sample.
• In this method quota are set up for example by
specifying the number of interviews from urban,
rural, male, female, literate, illiterate, age, gender, or
socioeconomic status, to ensure that the sample is
representative of the population being studied.
• Data is collected from homogenous group, e.g. male
55% and female 45%.
– E.g. seats of nursing district allocation.
 Judgment/purposive
• The selection of sample is based on personal experience
and judgment of investigator and sampling is called
judgment sampling
– Such as when population is very small and very
highly scattered, expert judgment (expertise) may be
better than random method.
• In purposive sampling, we take sample with a purpose
in mind.
– E.g. to collect sample from STDs, hep B, C or AIDS
patients.
– Search out hidden disease for specific purpose.
 Snowball sampling
 Participants via other Participants.
• In this method researcher first finds out one
respondents then these respondents to next one and so
on.
• This technique is use full when researcher is working
on addicted persons. (especially female).
• It is a technique used in research to identify and
recruit participants who may be difficult to reach or
locate.
 It is also used in accidental events
 Past and historical techniques also used.
 It is also used for rare sampling.
 Snowball sampling
 This method involves starting with a small group of
individuals who fit the criteria for the study and then
asking them to refer others they know who may also
fit the criteria

 Sometime researcher can not approach to

respondents easily then this method is used.
Snow ball sampling
 Sampling In Quantitative Studies
• Quantitative researchers are often interested in
being able to make generalizations about
groups larger than their study samples.
• So they rely on probability sampling
techniques.
 Con…
• Probability sampling is the only viable method
of obtaining representative samples. If all the
elements in the population have an equal
probability of being selected, then the resulting
sample is likely to do a good job of
representing the population.
 Con…
• In quantitative studies, researchers should
ideally use a power analysis to estimate
sample size needs. Large samples are
preferable to small ones because larger
samples tend to be m.ore representative
Steps in Sampling in Quantitative Studies

• Identify the population.

• Specify the eligibility criteria.
• Specify the sampling plan
• Recruit the sample
 SAMPLING IN QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
• Qualitative studies almost always use small,
non random samples. This does not mean that
qualitative researchers are unconcerned with
the quality of their samples, but rather that
they use different criteria for selecting study
participants.
The Logic of Qualitative Sampling
• Quantitative research is concerned with
measuring attributes and relationships in a
population, and therefore a representative
sample is needed to en sure that the
measurements accurately reflect and can be
generalized to the population. The aim of most
qualitative studies is to discover meaning and
to uncover multiple realities, and so generalize
ability is not a guiding criterion.
 Con…
• A random sample is not the best method of
selecting people who will make good
informants, that is, people who are
knowledgeable, articulate, reflective, and
willing to talk at length with researchers.
Various no probability sampling de signs have
been used by qualitative researchers.
 Con..
• In qualitative studies, sample size should be
determined based on informational needs.
Hence, a guiding principle in sampling is data
saturation that is, sampling to the point at
which no new information is obtained and
redundancy is achieved
 Con..
• Qualitative researchers almost never consider
randomness a desirable tool for fully
understanding a phenomenon. Qualitative
researchers tend to use information obtained
early in the study in a purposive (nonrandom)
fashion to guide their inquiry and to pursue
information-rich sources that can help them
expand or refine their conceptualizations.
 Reference
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C.T. (2004) Nursing
Research: Principles and methods (7th ed.).
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.