Sampling procedure and sampling

methods

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 Sampling procedure and…
• Researchers often use sample survey methodology to
obtain information
– about a larger population by selecting and measuring a sample
from that population

• Since population is too large, we rely on the information

collected from the sample
– Cost minimization

• Inferences about the population are based on the

information from the sample drawn from that population 2
 Sampling

• The process of selecting a portion of the population to

represent the entire population
• A main concern in sampling:

– Ensure that the sample represents the population,

and
– The findings can be generalized

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 Sampling procedure and…

Sample Information

Population

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 Advantages of sampling:
• Feasibility: Sampling may be the only feasible method of
collecting information.
• Reduced cost: Sampling reduces demands on resource such
as finance, personnel, and material.
• Greater accuracy: Sampling may lead to better accuracy of
collecting data
• Greater speed: Data can be collected and summarized more
quickly
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 Disadvantages of sampling:

• There is always a sampling error (errors introduced due

in the selection of a sample)
• Sampling may create a feeling of discrimination within
the population.

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 Sampling…

While selecting a SAMPLE, there are basic questions:

– What is the group of people (STUDY POPULATION)
from which we want to draw a sample?
– How many people do we need in our sample?

– How will these people be selected?

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 Terms used during sampling
• Reference population (or target population):
– the population of interest to whom the researchers would like
to make generalizations

• Sampling population: the subset of the target population

from which a sample will be drawn.
• Study population: the actual group in which the study is
conducted = Sample
• Study unit: the units on which information will be
collected: persons, housing units, etc. 8
Researchers are interested to know about factors
associated with ART use among HIV/AIDS patients
attending certain hospitals in a given Region

Target population = All ART

patients in the Region

Sampling population = All

ART patients in, e.g. 3,
hospitals in the Region

Sample

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 Sampling Methods

Two broad divisions:

A. Probability sampling methods

B. Non-probability sampling methods

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 A. Probability sampling

• Involves random selection of a sample

• Every sampling unit has a known and non-zero

probability of being selected into the sample
• Involves the selection of a sample from a population,
based on chance

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Most common probability sampling methods

1. Simple random sampling

2. Systematic random sampling

3. Stratified random sampling

4. Cluster sampling

5. Multi-stage sampling

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 1. Simple random sampling

• The required number of individuals are selected at

random from the sampling frame, a list or a database of
all individuals in the population
• Each member of the population has an equal chance of
being included in the sample

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 Simple random sampling
• To use a SRS method:
– Make a numbered list of all the units in the population

– Each unit should be numbered from 1 to N (where N is the

size of the population)
– Select the required number.

• The randomness of the sample is ensured by:

– Use of “lottery’ methods

– Computer programs

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 Simple random sampling…

• SRS has certain limitations:

– Requires a sampling frame

– Difficult if the reference population is dispersed

– Minority subgroups of interest may not be selected

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 2. Systematic random sampling

• Sometimes called interval sampling

• Selection of individuals from the sampling frame

systematically rather than randomly
• Individuals are taken at regular intervals down the list

• The starting point is chosen at random

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 Systematic random sampling…
• Important if the reference population is arranged in
some order:
– Order of registration of patients

– Numerical number of house numbers

– Student’s registration books

• Taking individuals at fixed intervals (every kth) based on

the sampling fraction,
– eg. if the sample includes 20%, then every fifth
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 Systematic random sampling…
Steps in systematic random sampling
1.Number the units on your frame from 1 to N (where N is
the total population size).
2.Determine the sampling interval (K) by dividing the
number of units in the population by the desired sample
size
3.Select a number between one and K at random.
4.Select every Kth unit after that first number

Note: Systematic sampling should not be used when

a cyclic repetition is inherent in the sampling frame 18
 Systematic random sampling…

Example
•To select a sample of 100 from a population of 400, you
would need a sampling interval of 400 ÷ 100 = 4
– Therefore, K = 4

•You will need to select one unit out of every four units to
end up with a total of 100 units in your sample.
•Select a number between 1 and 4 from a table of random
numbers 19
 Systematic random sampling…
• If you choose 3, the third unit on your frame would be
the first unit included in your sample;
• The sample might consist of the following units to make
up a sample of 100:, 3 (the random start), 7, 11, 15,
19...395, 399 (up to N, which is 400 in this case)
• Each member of the population belongs to only one of
the four samples and
– each sample has the same chance of being selected
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 3. Stratified random sampling
• It is done when the population is known to be have

– heterogeneity with regard to some factors and those

factors are used for stratification
• Using stratified sampling, the population is divided into
homogeneous, mutually exclusive groups called strata,

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 Stratified random sampling ….
• A population can be stratified by any variable that is
available for all units prior to sampling
– (e.g., age, sex, province of residence, income, etc.)

• A separate sample is taken independently from each

stratum.
• Any of the sampling methods mentioned in this section
(and others that exist)
• can be used to sample within each stratum
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 4. Cluster sampling
• 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

• Cluster sampling is the most widely used to reduce the

cost
• The clusters should be homogeneous, unlike stratified
sampling where the strata are heterogeneous
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 5. Multi-stage sampling

• Similar to the cluster sampling, except that it involves

picking a sample from within each chosen cluster, rather
than including all units in the cluster
• This type of sampling requires at least two stages
– The primary sampling unit (PSU) is the sampling unit in the first
sampling stage
– The secondary sampling unit (SSU) is the sampling unit in the
second sampling stage, etc
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 Multi-stage sampling….

Woreda PSU

Kebele SSU

Sub-Kebele TSU

HH

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 B. Non-probability sampling

• In non-probability sampling, every item has an unknown

chance of being selected
• In non-probability sampling, there is an assumption that
– an even distribution of a characteristic of interest within the
population

• This is what makes the researcher believe that any

sample would be representative and because of that,
results will be accurate
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 B. Non-probability sampling …
The most common types of non-probability sampling

1.Convenience or haphazard sampling

2.Volunteer sampling

3.Quota sampling

4.Snowball sampling technique

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 1. Convenience sampling
• Convenience sampling is sometimes referred to as
haphazard or accidental sampling
• It is not normally representative of the target
population
– because sample units are only selected if they can be
accessed easily and conveniently
• The obvious advantage is that the method is easy to
use,
– but that advantage is greatly offset by the presence of bias
• Although its applications are limited, it can deliver
accurate results when the population is homogeneous.
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 2. Volunteer sampling
• As the term implies, this type of sampling occurs when
people volunteer to be involved in the study.
• in clinical trials (drug testing), for example, it would be
difficult and unethical to
– enlist random participants from the general public

• In these instances, the sample is taken from a group of

volunteers

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 3. Quota sampling
• In this case sampling is done until a specific number of
units (quotas) for various sub-populations have been
selected
• Since there are no rules as to how these quotas are to be
filled,
– quota sampling is really a means for satisfying sample size
objectives for certain sub-populations
• Quota sampling is generally less expensive than random
sampling
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 3. Quota sampling…
• Quota sampling is an effective sampling method when
– information is urgently required and can be conducted without
sampling frames

• In many cases where the population has no suitable

frame,
– quota sampling may be the only appropriate sampling method.

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 4. Snowball sampling

• A technique for selecting a research sample where

existing study subjects
– recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances

• Thus the sample group appears to grow like a rolling

snowball

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 4. Snowball sampling…
• This sampling technique is often used in hidden
populations which are difficult for researchers to access;
– example populations would be drug users or commercial sex
workers

• Because sample members are not selected from a

sampling frame, this method is subject to numerous
biases
• For example, people who have many friends are more likely to
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be recruited into the sample.
Thank you

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