BSECE-4B

Assignment No. 4

Sampling Techniques
Sampling - is very often used in our daily life.
- We use sampling when it is not possible to measure every item in the population.
Sampling technique - is a procedure used to determine the individuals or members of a sample.

Sampling Techniques

Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling

Random Sampling Convenience Sampling

Systematic Sampling Quota Sampling

Systematic Random Purpose Sampling

Sampling

Stratified Random
Sampling

Cluster Sampling

Probability Sampling
Simple Random Sampling
• Every member of the population (N) has an equal chance of being selected for your sample (n).
• This is arguably the best sampling method, as your sample is almost guaranteed to be
representative of your population. However, it is rarely ever used due to being too impractical.
There are two popular approaches that are aimed to minimize the relevance of bias in the process of
random sampling selection: method of lottery and the use of random numbers.

• In method of lottery you will have to number each member of population with a consequent
manner, writing numbers in separate pieces of paper. These pieces of papers are to be folded and
 mixed into a box. Lastly, samples are to be taken randomly from the box by choosing folded pieces
of papers in a random manner.
• The use of random numbers, an alternative method also involves numbering of population
members from 1 to N. Then, the sample size of n has to be determined by selecting numbers
randomly. The use of random number table similar to one below can help greatly with the
application of this sampling technique.
Simple Random Sampling Merits
1. If applied appropriately, simple random sampling is associated with the minimum amount of
sampling bias compared to other sampling methods.
2. Given the large sample frame is available, the ease of forming the sample group i.e. selecting
samples is one of the main advantages of simple random sampling.
3. Research findings resulting from the application of simple random sampling can be generalized
due to representativeness of this sampling technique and a little relevance of bias.
Simple Random Sampling Limitations
1. It is important to note that application of random sampling method requires a list of all potential
respondents (sampling frame) to be available beforehand and this can be costly and time-
consuming for large studies.
2. The necessity to have a large sample size can be a major disadvantage in practical levels
3. This sampling method is not suitable for studies that involve face-to-face interviews covering a
large geographical area due to cost and time considerations
Example:
Suppose there are N = 850 ECE students in Technological University of the Philippine. The students are
numbered from 1 to 850. Since our population runs into three digits we use random numbers that contain
three digits. All numbers exceeding 850 are ignored because they do not correspond to any serial number
in the population. In case the same number occurs again, the repetition is ignored. Following these rules
the following simple random sample of 10 students is obtained when columns 31 and 32 of the random
numbers given in Appendix 1 are used.

Systematic Sampling

• This method is widely employed because of its ease and convenience.

• A frequently used method of sampling when a complete list of the population is available is
systematic sampling.
 • It is also called Quasi-random sampling.

Systematic Sampling Selection Procedure

• The whole sample selection is based on just a random start.
• The first unit is selected with the help of random numbers and the rest get selected automatically
according to some pre designed pattern is known as systematic sampling.
• With systematic random sampling every Kth element in the frame is selected for the sample, with
the starting point among the first K elements determined at random.

Systematic Sampling Merits

• This method is simple and convenient.
• Time and work is reduced much.
• If proper care is taken result will be accurate.
• It can be used in infinite population.
Systematic Sampling Limitations
• Systematic sampling may not represent the whole population.
• There is a chance of personal bias of the investigators.

Example:
1. We want to select a sample of 50 students from 500 students under this method Kth item is
picked up from the sampling frame (K is called sampling interval)
𝑁 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒
𝐾= =
𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒
K=500/50=10
2. Let's suppose your sampling frame is a large city's telephone book that has 2,000,000 entries. To
take a SRS, you need to associate each entry with a number and choose n= 200 numbers from N=
2,000,000. This could be quite an ordeal. Instead, you decide to take a random start between 1
and N/n= 20,000 and then take every 20,000th name, etc.

Systematic Random Sampling

• In this method, every nth individual from the population (N) is placed in the sample (n).

Example:
If you add every 7th individual to walk out of a supermarket to your sample, you are performing
systematic sampling.

Stratified Random Sampling

• There are two types of stratified sampling. They are proportional and non-proportional.
• In the proportional sampling 20 equal and proportionate representation is given to subgroups
 • The population size is denoted by N and the sample size is denoted by ‘ n’
• The sample fractions is a constant for each stratum. That is given by n/N = c.

Stratified Random Sampling Merits

• It is more representative.
• It ensures greater accuracy.
• It is easy to administer as the universe is sub - divided.
• Greater geographical concentration reduces time and expenses.
• When the original population is badly skewed, this method is appropriate.
• For non – homogeneous population, it may field good results.

Stratified Random Sampling Limitations

• To divide the population into homogeneous strata, it requires more money, time and statistical
experience which is a difficult one.
• Improper stratification leads to bias, if the different strata overlap such a sample will not be a
representative one.

Example:
A sample of 50 students is to be drawn from a population consisting of 500 students belonging to two
institutions A and B. the number of students in the institution A is 200 and the institution B is 300. how
will you draw the sample using proportional allocation?
Solution:
There are 2 strata in this case with sizes N1 = 200 and N2 = 300 an the total population N= N1 = N2 = 500
The sample size is 50
n1 = (n/N) x (N1) = (50/500) x (200) = 20
n2 = (n/N) x (N2) = (50/500) x (300) = 30

The sample sizes are 20 from A and 30 from B.

Cluster Sampling
 • Divide the population area into sections (or clusters), then randomly select a few of those
sections, and then you randomly select a sample from those selected sections.

Example:
Suppose we want to determine the average daily expenses of families living in the City of Santa Rosa.
Assume that there are 15 barangays. We can draw a random sample of 5 barangays using random
sampling and then get a certain number of families from each of the 5 barangays.

Important things about cluster sampling:

• Most large scale surveys are done using cluster sampling;

• Clustering may be combined with stratification, typically by clustering within strata;
• In general, for a given sample size n cluster samples are less accurate than the other types of
sampling in the sense that the parameters you estimate will have greater variability than an SRS,
stratified random or systematic sample.

Non-probability
Convenience Sampling

• Convenience sampling is used because it is quick, inexpensive, and convenient. Convenience

samples are useful for certain purposes, and they require very little planning.
• Researchers simply use participants who are available at the moment.

Example:
1. In shopping malls or airports, individuals are selected as they pass a certain location and
interviewed concerning issues, candidates, or other matters.
2. Phone surveys may be based on anyone answering the phone between the hours of 9 A.M. and 5
P.M.
3. Politicians use convenience sampling to determine the attitudes of those they represent when they
report on the number of letters voluntarily sent to them by their constituents.
4. The researcher knows one of the middle-school teachers, and the teacher volunteers her 35
students for the study. These children and their parents are then contacted.
Convenience Sampling Merits
Simple, easy, convenient, no complete member list needed
Convenience Sampling Limitation
May not be representative of the population.
Quota Sampling

• The researcher first identifies the stratums and their proportions as they are represented in the
population. Then convenience or judgment sampling is used to select the required number of
subjects from each stratum.
• This technique is often used by market researchers and those taking political polls. Usually, when
this technique is used, the population of interest is large and there are no ready-made lists of
names available from which to sample randomly.

Selected through
researcher’s
convenience or
judgment.

Example:
Using the middle-school directory, the researcher selects the first 20 sixth-grade boys, the first 20 sixth-
grade girl, the first 20 seventh-grade boys, the first 20 seventh-grade girls, the first 20 eight-grade boys,
and first 20 eight-grade girls. These children and their parents are then contacted.
Quota Sampling Merits
Simple, easy, convenient, no complete member list needed
Quota Sampling Limitation
May not be representative of the population.

Purposive Sampling

• Selects members or elements based on the particular purpose of the experiment or study. This
technique is useful for situations where you need to reach a targeted sample quickly and where
sampling for proportionality is not the primary concern.
• The main goal of purposive sampling is to focus on particular characteristics of a population that
are of interest, which will best enable you to answer your research questions. The sample being
studied is not representative of the population, but for researchers pursuing qualitative or mixed
methods research designs, this is not considered to be a weakness. Rather, it is a choice, the
purpose of which varies depending on the type of purposing sampling technique that is used. For
 example, in homogeneous sampling, units are selected based on their having similar
characteristics because such characteristics are of particular interested to the researcher. By
contrast, critical case sampling is frequently used in exploratory, qualitative research in order to
assess whether the phenomenon of interest even exists (amongst other reasons).
Purposive sampling Merits

• There are a wide range of qualitative research designs that researchers can draw on. Achieving
the goals of such qualitative research designs requires different types of sampling strategy and
sampling technique. One of the major benefits of purposive sampling is the wide range of
sampling techniques that can be used across such qualitative research designs; purposive
sampling techniques that range from homogeneous sampling through to critical case sampling,
expert sampling, and more.

• Whilst the various purposive sampling techniques each have different goals, they can provide
researchers with the justification to make generalizations from the sample that is being studied,
whether such generalizations are theoretical, analytic and/or logical in nature. However, since
each of these types of purposive sampling differs in terms of the nature and ability to make
generalizations, you should read the articles on each of these purposive sampling techniques to
understand their relative advantages.

• Qualitative research designs can involve multiple phases, with each phase building on the
previous one. In such instances, different types of sampling technique may be required at each
phase. Purposive sampling is useful in these instances because it provides a wide range of non-
probability sampling techniques for the researcher to draw on. For example, critical case
sampling may be used to investigate whether a phenomenon is worth investigating further, before
adopting an expert sampling approach to examine specific issues further.
Purposive sampling Limitations

• Purposive samples, irrespective of the type of purposive sampling used, can be highly prone to
researcher bias. The idea that a purposive sample has been created based on the judgement of the
researcher is not a good defense when it comes to alleviating possible researcher biases,
especially when compared with probability sampling techniques that are designed to reduce such
biases. However, this judgmental, subjective component of purpose sampling is only a major
disadvantage when such judgements are ill-conceived or poorly considered; that is, where
judgements have not been based on clear criteria, whether a theoretical framework, expert
elicitation, or some other accepted criteria.

• The subjectivity and non-probability based nature of unit selection (i.e., selecting people,
cases/organizations, etc.) in purposive sampling means that it can be difficult to defend the
representativeness of the sample. In other words, it can be difficult to convince the reader that the
judgement you used to select units to study was appropriate. For this reason, it can also be
difficult to convince the reader that research using purposive sampling achieved
theoretical/analytic/logical generalization. After all, if different units had been selected, would the
results and any generalizations have been the same?
Example:
 A researcher wanted to find out, how the drug addicts did able to overcome the treatment they
experience inside the rehabilitation center. The researcher could possibly choose to interview only those
who have completely recovered or manage to change their life to become better after coming out from the
rehabilitation center.