Chapter -
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Sampling Techniques
7.1 Introduction:
Given a variable X, if we arrange its values in ascending order and
assign probability to each of the values or if we present X i in a form of
relative frequency distribution the result is called Sampling Distribution
of X.
Definitions:
Parameter: Characteristic or measure obtained from a
population.
Statistic: Characteristic or measure obtained from a sample.
Sampling: The process or method of sample selection from the
population.
Sampling unit: the ultimate unit to be sampled or elements of
the population to be sampled.
Examples:
- If some body studies Scio-economic status of the
households, households are the sampling unit.
- If one studies performance of freshman students in some
college, the student is the sampling unit.
Sampling frame: is the list of all elements in a population.
Examples:
- List of households.
- List of students in the registrar office.
Errors in sample survey:
There are two types of errors
Sampling error:
- It is the discrepancy between the population value and
sample value.
- May arise due to inappropriate sampling
techniques applied
Non sampling errors: are errors due to
procedure bias such as:
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- Due to incorrect responses
- Measurement
- Errors at different stages in processing the data.
7.2 The Need / reason for Sampling
- Reduced cost
- Greater speed
- Greater accuracy
- Greater scope
- More detailed information can be obtained.
7.3 Types of sampling techniques
There are two types of sampling techniques.
Random sampling (probability sampling) techniques.
Non Random Sampling (non-probability sampling) techniques.
4.3.1 Random sampling (probability sampling)
techniques. .
- It is a method of sampling in which all elements in the population
have a pre-assigned non-zero probability to be included in to the
sample.
Examples:
Simple random sampling
Stratified random sampling
Cluster sampling
Systematic sampling
1. Simple Random Sampling:
- Is a method of selecting items from a population such that
every possible sample of specific size has an equal chance of
being selected. In this case, sampling may be with or without
replacement. Or
- All elements in the population have the same pre-assigned non-
zero probability to be included in to the sample.
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- Simple random sampling can be done either using the lottery
method or table of random numbers.
2. Stratified Random Sampling:
In stratified sampling, the population of N units is sub-divided
into k sub-populations, called strata, so that the units in each
stratum are as homogeneous as possible and the means of the
different strata are as different as possible. These sub-
populations should be non-overlapping so that they comprise the
whole population such that , where represent
the population size in the strata. Then a sample is drawn from
each stratum independently, the sample size within the
stratum being such that . The
procedure of taking samples in this way is called stratified
sampling. If the sample is taken randomly from each stratum,
the procedure is known as stratified random sampling.
- The population will be divided in to non-overlapping but
exhaustive groups called strata.
- Simple random samples will be chosen from each stratum.
- Elements in the same strata should be more or less
homogeneous while different in different strata.
- Some of the criteria for dividing a population into strata are:
Sex (male, female); Age (under 18, 18 to 28, 29 to 39);
Occupation (blue-collar, professional, other).
3. Cluster Sampling:
- The population is divided in to non-overlapping groups called
clusters.
- A simple random sample of groups or cluster of elements is
chosen and all the sampling units in the selected clusters will
be surveyed.
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- Clusters are formed in a way that elements with in a cluster are
heterogeneous, i.e. observations in each cluster should be
more or less dissimilar.
- Cluster sampling is useful when it is difficult or costly to
generate a simple random sample. For example, to estimate
the average annual household income in a large city we use
cluster sampling, because to use simple random sampling we
need a complete list of households in the city from which to
sample. To use stratified random sampling, we would again
need the list of households. A less expensive way is to let each
block within the city represent a cluster. A sample of clusters
could then be randomly selected, and every household within
these clusters could be interviewed to find the average annual
household income.
4. Systematic Sampling:
Systematic sampling is the selection of every kth element from a
sampling frame, where k, the sampling interval and k =
population size / sample size = N/n. Using this procedure each
element in the population has a known and equal probability of
selection. This makes systematic sampling functionally similar to
simple random sampling. It is however, much more efficient and
much less expensive to do. Like simple random sampling a
complete list of all elements with in the population (sampling
frame) is required. The procedure starts in determining the first
element to be included in the sample. It is however, much more
efficient and much less expensive to do. Suppose that we have a
complete and up-to-date list of the N units in the population
numbered from 1 to N in some order. To select a sample of size
n, if N is an integral multiple of n, N = kn for some integer k, k =
population size / sample size = N/n.
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The procedure starts in determining the first element to be
included in the sample, select a unit i randomly from the first
group, i as the first element. The second unit will be (i+k) th
element from the frame. Totality we have a sample of size n
from the population of size N, i th , (i+k)th , (i+2k)th ,… (i+(n-1)k)th
element of the population are taken as a sample.
7.3.1 Non Random Sampling (non-probability sampling)
techniques.
- It is a sampling technique in which the choice of individuals for a
sample depends on the basis of convenience, personal choice or
interest.
Examples:
Judgment sampling.
Convenience sampling
Quota Sampling.
1. Judgment Sampling
In this case, the person taking the sample has direct or indirect
control over which items are selected for the sample.
2. Convenience Sampling
In this method, the decision maker selects a sample from the
population in a manner that is relatively easy and convenient.
3. Quota Sampling
In this method, the decision maker requires the sample to contain a
certain number of items with a given characteristic. Many
political polls are, in part, quota sampling.