SAMPLING METHODS

A sample is a group of people representing the given population under study. A sample design is a
definite plan for obtaining a sample from a given population. It refers to the technique or the procedure
the researcher would adopt in selecting items for the sample. There are certain conditions or criteria for
selecting a good sample:

(a) Sample design must result in a truly representative sample.

(b) Sample design must be such which results in a small sampling error.
(c) Sample design must be viable in the context of funds available for the research study.
(d) Sample design must be such so that systematic bias can be controlled in a better way.
(e) Sample should be such that the results of the sample study can be applied, in general, for the universe
with a reasonable level of confidence.

SAMPLING Terminologies:

Theoretical Population: The Population you wish to generalize.

Study Population: The subset of the theoretical population.
SAMPLING UNIT: Subject under consideration
Sampling Frame : List of all sampling units
Sampling Fraction: Ratio between sample size and population size.
The Sampling Distribution: The distribution of an infinite number of samples of the same size as the
sample in your study is known as the sampling distribution.

Why do we use samples ?

1. It is is difficult to study the universe
2. Study of sample is economical in all senses
3. Supervision during the study is better.
4. Results are received earlier and application of those is timely.

There are different types of sample designs based on two factors viz., the
representation basis and the element selection technique. On the representation basis, the sample may be
probability sampling or it may be non-probability sampling. Probability sampling is based on the concept
of random selection, whereas non-probability sampling is ‘non-random’ sampling. On element selection
basis, the sample may be either unrestricted or restricted. When each sample element is drawn
individually from the population at large, then the sample so drawn is known as ‘unrestricted sample’,
whereas all other forms of sampling are covered under the term ‘restricted sampling’. The following chart
exhibits the sample designs as explained above. Thus, sample designs are basically of two types viz., non-
probability sampling and probability sampling. We take up these two designs separately.

Non-probability sampling is that sampling procedure which does not afford any basis for estimating the
probability that each item in the population has of being included in the sample. Non-probability
sampling is also known by different names such as deliberate sampling, purposive sampling and
judgement sampling. In this type of sampling, items for the sample are selected deliberately by the
researcher; his choice concerning the items remains supreme. In other words, under non-probability
sampling the organisers of the inquiry purposively choose the particular units of the universe for
constituting a sample on the basis that the small mass that they so select out of a huge one will be typical
or representative of the whole. For instance, if economic conditions of people living in a state are to be
studied, a few towns and villages may be purposively selected for intensive study on the principle that
they can be representative of the entire state. Thus, the judgement of the organisers of the study plays an
important part in this sampling design.

TYPES OF NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLIG:

SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

1. Get a list or “sampling frame”

2. Generate random numbers
3. Select one person per random number

STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING:

If a population from which a sample is to be drawn does not constitute a homogeneous group, stratified
sampling technique is generally applied in order to obtain a representative sample. Under stratified
sampling the population is divided into several sub-populations that are individually more homogeneous
than the total population (the different sub-populations are called ‘strata’) and then we select items from
each stratum to constitute a sample. Since each stratum is more homogeneous than the total population,
we are able to get more precise estimates for each stratum and by estimating more accurately each of the
component parts, we get a better estimate of the whole. In brief, stratified sampling results in more
reliable and detailed information.

1. Separate your population into groups or “strata”

2. Do either a simple random sample or systematic random sample from there
a. Note you must know easily what the “strata” are before attempting this
b. If your sampling frame is sorted by, say, school district, then you’re able to use this
method

SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING:
In some instances, the most practical way of sampling is to select every kth item on a list. Sampling of
this type is known as systematic sampling. An element of randomness is introduced into this kind of
sampling by using random numbers to pick up the unit with which to start.

1. Select a random number, which will be known as k

2. Get a list of people, or observe a flow of people (e.g., pedestrians on a corner)
3. Select every kth person
a. Careful that there is no systematic rhythm to the flow or list of people.
b. If every 4th person on the list is, say, “rich” or “senior” or some other consistent
pattern, avoid this method

CLUSTER SAMPLING:
If the total area of interest happens to be a big one, a convenient way in which a sample can be taken is to
divide the area into a number of smaller non-overlapping areas and then to randomly select a number of
these smaller areas (usually called clusters), with the ultimate sample consisting of all (or samples of)
units in these small areas or clusters. Thus in cluster sampling the total population is divided into a
number of relatively small subdivisions which are themselves clusters of still smaller units and then some
of these clusters are randomly selected for inclusion in the overall sample.

1. Get a list of “clusters,” e.g., villages in the district

2. Randomly sample clusters from that list
3. Have a list of, say, 10 villages
 4. Randomly sample people within those villages

Convenience Sampling:
This is done with the convenience of the researcher in mind.
Eg: Find some people that are easy to find for example Persons visiting as outpatients.

MULTI STAGE SAMPLING:

Multi-stage sampling is a further development of the principle of cluster sampling.

Eg: Suppose we want to investigate the working efficiency of nationalised banks in India and we
want to take a sample of few banks for this purpose.

1. The first stage is to select large primary sampling unit such as states in a country.

2. Then we may select certain districts and interview all banks in the chosen districts. This
would represent a two-stage sampling design with the ultimate sampling units being clusters
of districts.

3. If instead of taking a census of all banks within the selected districts, we select certain towns
and interview all banks in the chosen towns. This would represent a three-stage sampling
design.

4. If instead of taking a census of all banks within the selected towns, we randomly sample
banks from each selected town, then it is a case of using a four-stage sampling plan. If we
select randomly at all stages, we will have what is known as ‘multi-stage random sampling
design’.

Ordinarily multi-stage sampling is applied in big inquires extending to a

considerable large geographical area, say, the entire country. There are two advantages of this sampling
design viz., (a) It is easier to administer than most single stage designs mainly because of the fact that
sampling frame under multi-stage sampling is developed in partial units. (b) A large number of units can
be sampled for a given cost under multistage sampling because of sequential clustering, whereas this is
not possible in most of the simple designs.

Probability sampling is also known as ‘random sampling’ or ‘chance sampling’. Under this sampling
design, every item of the universe has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample. It is, so to say, a lottery
method in which individual units are picked up from the whole group not deliberately but by some
mechanical process. Here it is blind chance alone that determines whether one item or the other is
selected. The results obtained from probability or random sampling can be assured in terms of probability
i.e., we can measure the errors of estimation or the significance of results obtained from a random sample,
and this fact brings out the superiority of random sampling design over the deliberate sampling design.
Random sampling ensures the law of Statistical Regularity which states that if on an average the sample
chosen is a random one, the sample will have the same composition and characteristics as the universe.
This is the reason why random sampling is considered as the best technique of selecting a representative
sample.

TYPES OF PROBABILITY SAMPLING:

AREA SAMPLING:

If clusters happen to be some geographic subdivisions, in that case cluster sampling is better known as
area sampling. In other words, cluster designs, where the primary sampling unit represents a cluster of
units based on geographic area, are distinguished as area sampling. The plus and minus points of cluster
sampling are also applicable to area sampling.

Eg: Doing the clustering sampling example for this, except that the people are from one village not
from multiple villages.

Judgment sampling:
We know that this place contains certain people that fit into the research’s criteria nad we take samples
from there. This is know as JUDMENT SAMPLING.

Eg: Find some people that fit characteristics for your survey. For example HIV patients visiting
PPTCT/Art Centres

SNOW BALL SAMPLING:

This type is very simple. Here, we find a few people that are relevant to your topic and ask them to
refer you to more of them. This is mostly done for rarely present population.

Eg: For doing a research on Burmese people in India, we get one person and ask them to bring
or refer some other people of their race.

CONCLUSION:

The nature and method of sampling to be used in a particular situation depends on various
considerations like time,cost efficiency desired and other factors. Any of the above discussed
methods or a combination of them may be used depending on requirements. A sample survey should
be carefully planned and executed to avoid inaccuracies. In the absence of experts there is possibility
of inexperienced persons ruining a survey. Greater care has to be taken as the size of the survey and
its coverage become larger. A pilot survey might be conducted to get a rough idea of the problems to
be faced and to plan their solutions. This may give experience, training and preparation for better
results.