Types of Sampling Methods

Samples

Non-Probability Probability Samples

Samples
Simple
Random Stratified

Judgement Chunk
Cluster
Systematic
Quota
 Probability Sampling
• Subjects of the sample are chosen based on
known probabilities

Probability Samples

Simple
Random Systematic Stratified Cluster
 Sampling

• Sampling methods can be split into two

distinct groups:

1. Probability samples
2. Non-probability samples
 Sampling
Probability Samples
Probability samples offer each respondent an
equal probability or chance at being included in
the sample.
They are considered to be:
• Objective
• Empirical
• Scientific
• Quantitative
• Representative
 Sampling
Non Probability Samples
A non probability sample relies on the researcher
selecting the respondents.
They are considered to be:
• Interpretivist
• Subjective
• Not scientific
• Qualitative
• Unrepresentative
 PROBABILITY SAMPLING
A probability sampling scheme is one in which
every unit in the population has a chance (greater
than zero) of being selected in the sample, and this
probability can be accurately determined.

. When every element in the population does have the

same probability of selection, this is known as an
'equal probability of selection' (EPS) design. Such
designs are also referred to as 'self-weighting'
because all sampled units are given the same weight.
 PROBABILITY SAMPLING…….

• Probability sampling includes:

1. Simple Random Sampling
2. Systematic Sampling
3. Stratified Random Sampling
4. Cluster Sampling
5. Multistage Sampling
6. Multiphase sampling
 NON PROBABILITY SAMPLING

Any sampling method where some elements of

population have no chance of selection (these are
sometimes referred to as 'out of coverage'/'under
covered'), or where the
probability of selection can't be accurately
determined. It involves the selection of elements
based on assumptions regarding the population of
interest, which forms the criteria for selection.
Hence, because the selection of elements is
nonrandom, non probability sampling not allows
the estimation of sampling errors..
NON PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Example: We visit every household in a given
street, and interview the first person to answer
the door. In any household with more than one
occupant, this is a nonprobability sample,
because some people are more likely to answer
the door (e.g. an unemployed person who spends
most of their time at home is more likely to
answer than an employed housemate who might
be at work when the interviewer calls) and it's
not practical to calculate these probabilities.
 NONPROBABILITY SAMPLING…….
• Nonprobability Sampling includes:
• Accidental Sampling
• Quota Sampling
• Purposive Sampling
• In addition, nonresponse effects may turn
any probability design into a nonprobability
design if the characteristics of nonresponse
are not well understood, since nonresponse
effectively modifies each element's
probability of being sampled.
 Simple Random Sampling
• This involves selecting anybody from the sample
frame entirely at random.
• Random means that each person within the
sample frame has an equal chance of being
selected.
• In order to be random, a full list of everyone
within a sample frame is required.
• Random number tables or a computer is then
used to select respondents at random from the
list.
Simple random sampling
 Table of random numbers

684257954125632140
582032154785962024
362333254789120325
985263017424503686
 SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
• Systematic sampling relies on arranging the target
population according to some ordering scheme and
then
selecting elements at regular intervals through that
ordered list.
• Systematic sampling involves a random start and then
proceeds with the selection of every kth element from
then onwards. In this case, k=(population size/sample
size).
• It is important that the starting point is not
automatically the first in the list, but is instead
randomly chosen from within the first to the kth
element in the list.
• A simple example would be to select every 10th name
from the telephone directory (an 'every 10th' sample,
also referred to as 'sampling with a skip of 10').
SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING……
As described above, systematic sampling is an EPS
method, because all elements have the same
probability of selection (in the example given, one in
ten). It is not 'simple random sampling' because
different subsets of the same size have different
selection probabilities - e.g. the set {4,14,24,...,994}
has a one-in-ten probability of selection, but the set
{4,13,24,34,...} has zero probability of selection.
 SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING……

• ADVANTAGES:
• Sample easy to select
• Suitable sampling frame can be identified easily
• Sample evenly spread over entire reference
population

• DISADVANTAGES:
• Sample may be biased if hidden periodicity in
population coincides with that of selection.
• Difficult to assess precision of estimate from one
survey.
Systematic sampling
 STRATIFIED SAMPLING
Where population embraces a number of distinct
categories, the frame can be organized into
separate "strata." Each stratum is then sampled
as an independent sub-population, out of which
individual elements can be randomly selected.
• Every unit in a stratum has same chance of being
selected.
• Using same sampling fraction for all strata ensures
proportionate representation in the sample.
• Adequate representation of minority subgroups of
interest can be ensured by stratification & varying
sampling fraction between strata as required.
 STRATIFIED SAMPLING……
• Finally, since each stratum is treated as an
independent population, different sampling
approaches can be applied to different strata.

• Drawbacks to using stratified sampling.

• First, sampling frame of entire population has to
be prepared separately for each stratum
• Second, when examining multiple criteria,
stratifying variables may be related to some, but
not to others, further complicating the design, and
potentially reducing the utility of the strata.
• Finally, in some cases (such as designs with a large
number of strata, or those with a specified
minimum
sample size per group), stratified sampling can
potentially require a larger sample than would other
STRATIFIED SAMPLING…….

Draw a sample from each stratum

 CLUSTER SAMPLING
• Cluster sampling is an example of 'two-stage
sampling' .
• First stage a sample of areas is chosen;
• Second stage a sample of respondents within
those areas is selected.
• Population divided into clusters of
homogeneous units, usually based on
geographical contiguity.
• Sampling units are groups rather than
individuals.
• A sample of such clusters is then selected.
• All units from the selected clusters are
 CLUSTER SAMPLING…….

• Advantages :
• Cuts down on the cost of preparing a
sampling frame.
• This can reduce travel and other
administrative costs.
• Disadvantages: sampling error is higher
for a simple random sample of same
size.
• Often used to evaluate vaccination
coverage in EPI
 CLUSTER SAMPLING…….
• Identification of clusters
– List all cities, towns, villages & wards of cities
with their population falling in target area under
study.
– Calculate cumulative population & divide by 30,
this gives sampling interval.
– Select a random no. less than or equal to
sampling interval having same no. of digits.
This forms 1st cluster.
– Random no.+ sampling interval = population of
2nd cluster.
– Second cluster + sampling interval = 4th cluster.
– Last or 30th cluster = 29th cluster + sampling
interval
 CLUSTER SAMPLING…….
Two types of cluster sampling methods.
One-stage sampling. All of the
elements within selected clusters are
included in the sample.
Two-stage sampling. A subset of
elements within selected clusters are
randomly selected for inclusion in the
sample.
 CLUSTER SAMPLING…….
• Freq cf cluster • XVI 3500 52500 17
• I 2000 2000 1 • XVII 4000 56500 18,19
• II 3000 5000 2 • XVIII 4500 61000 20
• III 1500 6500 • XIX 4000 65000 21,22
• IV 4000 10500 3 • XX 4000 69000 23
• V 5000 15500 4, 5 • XXI 2000 71000 24
• VI 2500 18000 6 • XXII 2000 73000
• VII 2000 20000 7 • XXIII 3000 76000 25
• VIII 3000 23000 8 • XXIV 3000 79000 26
• IX 3500 26500 9 • XXV 5000 84000 27,28
• X 4500 31000 10 • XXVI 2000 86000 29
• XI 4000 35000 11, 12 • XXVII 1000 87000
• XII 4000 39000 13 • XXVIII 1000 88000
• XIII 3500 44000 14,15 • XXIX 1000 89000 30
• XIV 2000 46000 • XXX 1000 90000
• XV 3000 49000 16 • 90000/30 = 3000 sampling interval
 Cluster sampling
Section 1 Section 2

Section 3

Section 5

Section 4
 Difference Between Strata and
Clusters
• Although strata and clusters are both non-
overlapping subsets of the population, they
differ in several ways.
• All strata are represented in the sample; but
only a subset of clusters are in the sample.
• With stratified sampling, the best survey
results occur when elements within strata are
internally homogeneous. However, with
cluster sampling, the best results occur when
elements within clusters are internally
heterogeneous
 MULTISTAGE SAMPLING

• Complex form of cluster sampling in which two or

more levels of units are embedded one in the other.

• First stage, random number of districts chosen in all

states.

• Followed by random number of talukas, villages.

• Then third stage units will be houses.

• All ultimate units (houses, for instance) selected at

last step are surveyed.
 MULTISTAGE SAMPLING……..

• This technique, is essentially the process of taking

random samples of preceding random samples.
• Not as effective as true random sampling, but
probably solves more of the problems inherent to
random sampling.
• An effective strategy because it banks on multiple
randomizations. As such, extremely useful.
• Multistage sampling used frequently when a
complete list of all members of the population not
exists and is inappropriate.
• Moreover, by avoiding the use of all sample units in
all selected clusters, multistage sampling avoids the
large, and perhaps unnecessary, costs associated
with traditional cluster sampling.
 MULTI PHASE SAMPLING

• Part of the information collected from whole sample

& part from subsample.

• In Tb survey MT in all cases – Phase I

• X –Ray chest in MT +ve cases – Phase II
• Sputum examination in X – Ray +ve cases - Phase III

• Survey by such procedure is less costly, less

laborious & more purposeful
 QUOTA SAMPLING

• The population is first segmented

into mutually exclusive sub-groups,
just as in stratified sampling.

• Then judgment used to select

subjects or units from each
segment
based on a specified proportion.
For example, an interviewer may be told
to sample 200 females and 300 males
between the age of 45 and 60.
It is this second step which makes the
technique one of non-probability
sampling.
In quota sampling the selection of the
sample is non-random.
For example, interviewers might be
tempted to interview those who look
most helpful. The problem is that these
samples may be biased because not
everyone gets a chance of selection.
This random element is its greatest
weakness and quota versus probability
has been a matter of controversy for
 MATCHED RANDOM SAMPLING
A method of assigning participants to groups in
which pairs of participants are first matched on
some characteristic and then individually assigned
randomly to groups.
• The Procedure for Matched random sampling can be
briefed with the following contexts,
• Two samples in which the members are clearly
paired, or are matched explicitly by the researcher.
For example, IQ measurements or pairs of identical
twins.
• Those samples in which the same attribute, or
variable, is measured twice on each subject, under
different circumstances. Commonly called repeated
measures.
• Examples include the times of a group of athletes
for 1500m before and after a week of special
training; the milk yields of cows before and after
being fed a particular diet.
 CONVENIENCE SAMPLING
• Sometimes known as grab or opportunity
sampling or accidental or haphazard
sampling.
• A type of nonprobability sampling which
involves
the sample being drawn from that part of the
population which is close to hand.
That is, readily available and convenient.
• The researcher using such a sample cannot
scientifically make generalizations about the
total population from this sample because it
would
not be representative enough.
For example, if the interviewer was to conduct
a
survey at a shopping center early in the
morning
on a given day, the people that he/she could
interview would be limited to those given
there at that given time, which would not
represent the views of other members of
society in such an area, if the survey was to
be conducted at different times of day and
several times per week.
This type of sampling is most useful for pilot
testing.
In social science research, snowball sampling
is a similar technique, where existing study
subjects are used to recruit more subjects into
CONVENIENCE SAMPLING…….

– Use results that are easy to get

Judgmental sampling or Purposive
sampling
• - The researcher chooses the sample
based on who they think would be
appropriate for the study. This is
used primarily when there is a
limited number of people that have
expertise in the area being
researched
 P ANEL SAMPLING

• Method of first selecting a group of participants

through a random sampling method and then asking
that group for the same information again several
times over a period of time.
• Therefore, each participant is given same survey or
interview at two or more time points; each period of
data collection called a "wave".
• This sampling methodology often chosen for large
scale or nation-wide studies in order to gauge changes
in the population with regard to any number of
variables from chronic illness to job stress to weekly
food expenditures.
• Panel sampling can also be used to inform researchers
about within-person health changes due to age or help
explain changes in continuous dependent variables
such as spousal interaction.
• There have been several proposed methods of
analyzing panel sample data, including growth curves.