croquet players.

Itwould be much more economical to surveR say, 300 people and

find 15 croquet players and ask them for the names of other ptryurs.

Reduced sample sizes and costs are a clear advantage of snowball sampling. Bias is
likely to enter into the study, however, because a person who is knownto someone
falso in the sample]- has a higher probability of being similar to the first person. If
there are major differences between those who are widely known by oihers and
those who are not, there may be serious problems with snowball sampling.

PROBABILITY SAMPLING

All probability samples are based on chance selection procedures. This eliminates
the bias inherent in the nonprobability sampling procedures because the
probability sampling process is random. It is frequently forgotten that the term
random refers to the procedure for selecting the sample; it does not describe the
data in the sample. 13 Randomness refers to a procedure the outcome of which
cannot be predicted because it is dependent on chance.

The procedure of randomization should not be thought of as unplanned or

unscientific. It is the basis of all probability sampling techniques.
,lr;;,l$tfiplg,Mndom,Sltffipling .

Simple random sampling assures that,each elementin the,population,has,an equal

chance,of'being included in'the:sarnple. Drawing names from-a hat or selecting-the
winning raffle ticket from a large drum is typical of simple random sampling. tlthe
names or raffle tickets are thoroughly stirred, each person (or ticket) ri,ould hav*
an equal chance of being selected. The sampling process is simpie because it
requires only one-stage of samplerselection (in contrast to more complex
probability samples). For srnq\l qrpv kr-\tcrn,

Drawing names or numbers out of a fish bowl, using a spinner, rolling dice, or
turning a roulette wheel may be used to draw a sample frlm small poplhtion s.
When populations consist of large numbers of elements, however, tables of
random digits or computer-generated random numbers are utilized for sample
selection.

Sele$ng a Simple Random Sample: For example, a researcher may be interested

in selecting a simple random sample of ali presidents of savings and loan
associations in New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. Each presiderit,s name is
assigned a number from 1 to 95, then each number is written on a separate piece
of paper, and all the,slips are placed in a large drum. After the slips oi paper have
been thoroughly mixed, one is selected for each sampling unit Tlius if ifri sample
size is to be 45, the selection procedure must be repeated 44 times after the first
slip has been selected. Mixing the slips after each selection will ensure that those at
the bottom of the bowl will continue to have an equal chance of being selected in
the sample.

The random-digit telephone-dialing technique of sample selection requires that

researchers identi$r the exchange or exchanges of interest (the first three
numbers) and then use a table of numbers to select the next four numbers.

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