RUHS COLLEGE OF

NURSING
SCIENCES, JAIPUR

ASSIGNMENT
ON
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

SUBMITTED
BY
PRAKASH SALVI
AVINASH CHOUDHARY
(M.SC. nursing final)

April 18, 2020

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GENERAL DEFINITION:
POPULATION:

A population is the total collection of elements about which we wish to make some
inferences.
OR
The larger group from individuals are selected to participate in a study.

Example: A researcher needs to study the problem faced by post graduate nurses of India, in
this the population will be all the post graduate nurses who are Indian citizen.

TARGET POPULATION:
The target population which is also called the universe is composed of the entire group of
people or objects to which the researcher wishes to generalize the finding of the study.
Example: A researcher is interested in identifying the complication of diabetes mellitus type-
1nd in RUHS hospital Jaipur.

ACCESSIBLE POPULATION:

The target population consists of people or things that meet the designated set of criteria of
interest to the researcher.
OR
An accessible population is the portion of the target population to which the researcher has
reasonable access.
Example: All diabetic people in India who are members of particular health plan.

SAMPLE:
sample may be defined as representative unit of target population which is to be worked
upon by researchers during their study.

OR
a sample is the selected group of elements or units to represent a population.

SAMPLING:
sampling is the process of selecting a representative segment of the population under study.
 Target population
Accessible population

Sample

SAMPLING FRAME:
A list of all elements or other units containing the elements in a population.
OR
It is a list of all those with in a population who can be sampled and may include individuals,
households or institutions.

TYPES OF SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:

Sampling technique

Probability sampling Non-Probability sampling

technique technique

1. Simple random sampling 1. Purposive sampling

2. Stratified random sampling 2. Convenience sampling
3. Systematic random sampling 3. Quota sampling

4. Cluster/multistage sampling 4. Snowball/ network sampling

5. Sequential sampling
[A]. Probability sampling techniques:

 It is based on the theory of probability, it involves random selection of the

elements/members of the population.
 A sample will be representative of the population from which it is selected if each
member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
 Probability samples are more accurate than Non-probability sample.

1. simple random sampling:

 Applicable when population is small homogenous and readily available.

 All subset of the frame are given an equal probability each element of the frame
thus has an equal probability of selection.
 In this sampling the population should be limited.

Steps of simple random sampling:

Step 1: make a list
Step 2: Assign a sequential number (sampling frame)
Step 3: Figure out what your sample size is going to be.
Step 4: Use any method of selection from following:
 Random number tables
 Lottery method
 Throwing of dies
 Tossing of coins
Example:
i. A pharmacological company wants to test the effectiveness of a new drug.
Volunteers are assigned randomly to one of two groups. The first group will receive
the new drug, the second group will receive a placebo.
ii. At a birthday party, teams for a game are chosen by putting everyone’s name into a
jar, and then choosing the names at random for each team.

Merits:

 One of the most reliable and unbiased method.

 Require minimum knowledge of study population.
 Free from sampling errors/bias.
 Sample errors can be easily computed and the accuracy of estimate easily assessed.
Demerits:

 Needs up to date complete list of all the members of population.

 Expensive and time consuming.
2. Stratified random sampling:
The population is divided into two or more groups called strata (single group – stratum),
according to some criterion such as age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, diagnosis,
education, geographical region, type of institution, type of care, type of registered nurses,
nursing area specialization, site of care etc. sub samples are randomly selected from each
strata.

 This method is used for heterogenous population.

 Stratified sampling involves dividing the potential samples into two or more mutually
exclusive groups based on categories of interest in the research.
Steps of Stratified random sampling:
Step 1: partition the population into two groups (strata).
Step 2: obtain a simple random sampling from each group (stratum).
Step 3: collect data on each sampling unit that was randomly sampled from each group
(stratum).
Types Stratified random sampling:

i. Proportionate Stratified random sampling:

Sample is chosen from each strata in equal proportion to the size of total population.

Example:
Stratum A B C
Population size 100 200 300
Proportion ½ ½ ½
(sampling fraction)
Sample size 50 100 150
ii. Disproportionate Stratified random sampling:
 Sample is chosen from each strata is not in equal proportion to the size of
total population.
 sampling fraction is the only differences between Proportionate and
Disproportionate Stratified random sampling.
 The different strata have dissimilar sampling fractions with Disproportionate
sampling.
Example:
Stratum A B C
Population size 100 20 300
0
Proportion ½ ¼ 1/6

(sampling fraction)
Sample size 50 100 150

Merits:

 Ensure representative sample in heterogenous population.

 Comparison is possible in two groups.
Demerits:

 Require complete information of population.

 Large population is required.
 Chances of faulty classification of strata.
3. Systematic random sampling:

 Systematic random sampling is a variation/type of simple random sampling.

 This sampling can be linked to an arithmetic progression, wherein the
difference between any two consecutive numbers/samples is equal.
 In this sampling, a list of population is made and then every K th elements from
the list is chosen as a sample. Such as every 10th person on a patient list or
every 100th person.
Number of subjects in target population(N)

K = N/n or K =

Size of sample(n)
Example:

A researcher wants to choose about 100 subjects from a total target population of 500
people therefore.

Number of subjects in target population(N) 500

K= = = 5
Size of sample(n) 100
So every 5th person will be selected.
4. Cluster or multistage sampling:

 Most common procedure for large scale when it is impossible to obtain a listing of all
elements.
 In this sampling technique total population is divided, depending on the problem
under study into some recognizable subdivision which are termed as clusters.
 Clusters are selected either by simple random or stratified random sampling.
 The result for clusters samples are not reliable as the results of simple random
samples or stratified random samples, so it should only be used if practical
consideration do not allow a better sample scheme.
Types:
i. One - stage cluster sample:
Example: A researcher requiring to survey the academic performance of Indian high
school students.
One-stage cluster sample occurs when researcher included all the high school
student.
ii. Two – stage cluster sample:
Two – stage cluster sample is obtained when the researcher only select a 40 numbers
of students by using simple or stratified random sampling.
Merits:

 Cheap, quick and easy for a large population.

 Enables investigation to use existing division such as district, villages/towns etc.
 Large population can be studied.
Demerits:

 Possibility of high sampling error.

 Chances of least representative sample due to over represented or
underrepresented cluster.
5. Sequential sampling:

 Sample size is not fixed.

 The investigator/researcher selects small sample and tries to make results and add
more subjects until clear cut result can be drown.
Example:

No. of subjects Smokers(A) Non - smokers(B) Having lung cancer

(A) (B)

20 7 12 2 1
30 18 22 5 3
50 28 22 10 4
Progressively increasing sample size until inferences are drawn. It can be said that in above-
given values, out of 50 subjects, 28 smokers had almost double incidence of lung cancer as
compared to 22 smokers.
Merits:

 Facilitates to conduct a study on best-possible smallest representative sample.

 Helping in ultimately finding the inferences of the study.
Demerits:

 It is not passible to study a phenomenon which needs to be studied at one point of

time.
 Require repeated entries into the field to collect the sample.
[B] Non probability sampling: -
In this sampling the samples are gathered in a process that
does not give all the individuals in the population equal chances of being selected in the
sample.
Uses of Nonprobability Sampling: -
1. This type of sampling can be used when demonstrating that a particular trait exists in
the population.
2. It can also be used when the researcher aims to do a qualitative, pilot, or
exploratory study.
3. It can be used when randomization is not possible like when the population is almost
limitless.
4. It can be used when the research does not aim to generate results that will be used
to create generalizations pertaining to the entire population.
5. It is also useful when the researcher has limited budget, time, and workforce.
6. This technique can also be used in an initial study (pilot study), which will be carried
out again using a randomized, probability sampling.

Types: -

1. Purposive sampling:
Purposive sampling known as “Judgmental” or “authoritative sampling”. In this
method a desired number of sample units is selected deliberately or purposely
depending upon the objectives of the study.
Ex: - A researcher wants to study the lived experiences of post disaster depression
among people living in earthquake-affected area of Gujarat.

Merits: -
 Simple to draw sample and useful in explorative studies.
 Saves recourses, requires less fieldwork.

Demerits: -

 Requires considerable knowledge about the population under study.

 It is not always reliable sample, as conscious biases may exist.
 The two main weaknesses of purposive sampling are with the authority and
in the sampling process, both of which pertain to the reliability and the bias
that accompanies the sampling technique.
 There is usually no way to evaluate the reliability of the expert or the
authority.
 When it comes to the sampling process, it is usually biased since no
randomization was used in obtaining the sample.
2. Convenience sampling:
 Convenience sampling also called accidental sampling. The subject are
selected in the sample because of their convenient accessibility and
proximity to the researcher subject they happen to be in the right place at
the right time.
 Convenience sampling is probably the most common of all sampling
techniques because it is fast, inexpensive, easy and the subjects are readily
available.
EX:
If a researcher wants to conduct a study on the older people residing in Ludhiana,
and the researcher observes that he can meet several older people coming for
morning walk in a park. These subjects are readily accessible for the researcher and
may help him to save time, money, and resources.

Merits: -
 This technique is considered easiest, cheapest, and least time consuming.
 This sample technique may help in saving time, money and resources.

Demerits: -

 The most obvious criticism about convenience sampling is sampling bias, and
that the sample is not representative of the entire population.
 It does not provide the representative sample from the population of the
study.
 Findings generated from these samples cannot be generalized on the
population.

3. Consecutive sampling:
 Consecutive sampling is very similar to convenience sampling except that it
seeks to include all accessible subjects as part of the sample.
 It is also known as “total enumerative sampling”. In this sampling technique,
the investigator picks up all the available subjects who are meeting the preset
inclusion and exclusion criteria. This technique is generally used in small-sized
populations.

Ex:
If a researcher wants to study the activity pattern of post kidney-transplant patients,
he can selects all the post kidney transplant patients who meet the designed
inclusion and exclusion criteria, and who are admitted in post-transplant ward during
a specific time period.
 Merits: -
 There is very little effort on the part of the researcher when performing this
sampling technique.
 It is not expensive, not time consuming and not workforce intensive.
 Ensures more representativeness of the selected sample.

Demerits: -

 The researcher has a no set plans about the sample size and sampling schedule.
 It always does not guarantee the selection of representative sample.
 Results from this sampling technique cannot be used to create conclusions and
interpretations pertaining to the entire population.

4. Quota sampling:
 In this the researcher ensures equal or proportionate representation of
subjects depending on which trait is considered as the basis of the quota. The
basis of the quota are usually age, gender, education, race, religion and socio-
economic status.
 The quota sampling technique appears like stratified random sampling
technique.
Ex:
If the basis of the quota is college level and the researcher needs equal
representation, with a sample size of 100, he must select 25 first year students, 25
second year students, 25 third year and 25 fourth year students.

Merits: -
 Economically cheap, as there is no need to approach all the candidates.
 Suitable for studies where the fieldwork has to be carried out, like studies
related to market and public opinion polls.

Demerits: -

 This type of sampling technique is totally representative of the population. In

some case it is not. Keep in mind that only the selected traits of the
population were taken into account in forming the subgroups.
 In the process of sampling these subgroups, other traits in the sample may
be overrepresented.
 Not possible to estimate errors.
 Bias is possible, as investigator/interviewer can select persons known to him.
5. Snow ball sampling:
 It is used by researchers to identify potential subjects in studies where
subjects are hard to locate such as commercial sex workers, drug abusers etc.

Ex.
A researchers wants to conduct a study on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among
commercial sex workers.
 Researcher use this sampling method if the sample for studies that are very
rare or are limited to very small subgroups of the population. This type of
sampling technique works like chain referral. Therefore it is also known as
“Chain Referral Sampling.”

Types: -

(a) Linear snowball sampling: - In this each selected sample is asked to provide
reference of only one similar subject, where a linear chain is created by the
completion of desired sample.

(b) Exponential non discriminative snowball sampling: - In this each sample member
is asked to provide reference of at least two similar subjects, because of which the
size of the sample size grows expontentially and a large sample size can be
achieved.

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 (c) Exponential discriminative snowball sampling: - In this initially one sample is
selected and asked for two references of similar subjects, out of which at least
one subjects must be active to provide further references and another could be
nonactive in providing references. Similarly each active references subject out of
them one should be active for further references.

Merits: -

 The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are
difficult to sample when using other sampling methods.
 The process is cheap, simple and cost-efficient.
 This sampling technique needs little planning and lesser workforce compared to
other methods.
Demerits: -

 The researcher has little control over the sampling method. The subjects that the
researcher can obtain rely mainly on the previous subjects that were observed.
 Representativeness of the sample is not guaranteed. The researcher has no idea of
the true distribution of the population and of the sample.
 Sampling bias is also a fear of researchers when using this sampling technique and
chances of poor coverage of entire population.

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