NAME: Reafor, John Carlo A.

COURSE: BSME 1A
SUBJECT: Engineering Data Analysis

TOPIC NO. 1: SAMPLING AND DATA GATHERING TECHNIQUES

OBJECTIVES:
a. Determine the sample size from a given population
b. Explain the meaning of margin of error used in research
c. Perform sampling from a target population
d. Differentiate probability from non-probability sampling
e. Use different data gathering techniques
(NOTE: Additional objectives relevant to the topic)

DISCUSSIONS:

a. Determine the sample size from a given population

According to Qualtrics (2021), the word "sample size" is widely used in statistics
and market analysis, and it's something that always comes up when you're surveying a
wide number of people. It has to do with how large-scale research is carried out.

When you conduct a survey with a wide group of people, you want to hear from
everybody, but it's not reasonable to expect feedback or outcomes from everyone. Then
you take a random sample of people who represent the whole population.

The sample size is critical for obtaining reliable, statistically relevant results and
successfully completing your analysis.

You must consider a few different variables that impact the study and obtain a basic
understanding of the statistics involved in order to select the appropriate sample size. After
that, you'll be able to use a sample size formula to pull it together and sample confidently,
ensuring that your survey is statistically reliable.

The first thing you need to do is consider your sample size variables. Before you can
measure a sample size, you must first find out a few specifics about the target population
and the accuracy you need much:

1. Population size
- What is the total number of people you are referring to? To figure this
out, you'll need to be specific about who belongs in your group and who
doesn't. If you want to know about dog owners, for example, you'll
include someone who has owned at least one dog at some point.
2. Margin of error (confidence interval)
- Errors are unavoidable; the question is how many you're prepared to
acknowledge. The margin of error, also known as the confidence interval,
is measured in mean numbers. You may determine how much variance
between the mean number of your sample and the mean number of your
population you want to allow.
3. Confidence level
- This is a different step from the step 2 trust interval, which has the same
name. It has to do with how certain you want to be that the true mean is
within the margin of error. 90 percent confident, 95 percent confident,
and 99 percent confident are the most common confidence intervals.
4. Standard deviation
- This step requires you to predict how different the responses would be
from one another and from the mean number. A low standard deviation
indicates that all of the values are clustered around the mean number,

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 while a high standard deviation indicates that they are distributed over a
much larger range, with very small and very large outlying figures.

The next thing you need to do now that you have finished the step 1-4 is to calculate
the sample size you need. The followings are the steps to calculate the sample size;

1. Find your Z-score

- You need to turn your confidence level into a Z-score. Here are the Z-
scores for the most common confidence levels.

+ 90% – Z Score = 1.645

+ 95% – Z Score = 1.96
+ 99% – Z Score = 2.576

Or you can choose a different confidence level by using the Z-table.

2. Use the sample size formula
¿ ( Z−score ) 2 x StdDev x (1−StdDev )
Necesarry sample
( margin of error ) 2
- This equation is for an unknown population size or a very large
population size.

Here’s a worked example, assuming you chose a 95% confidence level, .5

standard deviation, and a margin of error (confidence interval) of +/- 5%.

((1.96)2 x .5(.5)) / (.05)2

(3.8416 x .25) / .0025

.9604 / .0025

384.16

385 respondents are needed

Then you’ve just determined your sample size.

b. Explain the meaning of margin of error used in research

According to “Margin of Error” (2021), a margin of error shows how much the
findings will vary from the true population value by a percentage point. A 95% confidence
interval with a 4% margin of error, for example, means that the statistic would be within 4
percentage points of the true population value 95% of the time.

In a confidence interval, the margin of error is the number of values below and
above the sample statistic. The confidence interval is a way of expressing how ambiguous a
statistic is.

- For example, a poll could say that the 98 %t confidence interval is

between 4.88 and 5.26. That ensures that if the poll is replicated using the
same methods, the true population parameter (parameter vs. statistic)
will fall within the interval estimates 98 % of the time (i.e. between 4.88
and 5.26).

c. Perform sampling from a target population

NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
- According to Fleetwood, (2020). Non-probability sampling is
characterized as a sampling technique in which samples are chosen based
on the researcher's subjective judgment rather than random selection.
It's a more lenient approach. The researchers' expertise is highly

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 dependent on this sampling process. It is carried out by evaluation, and it
is commonly used in qualitative research.

Snowball sampling
- Snowball sampling aids researchers in locating samples that are difficult
to identify. When the sample size is limited and not readily accessible,
researchers use this method. This sampling method operates similarly to
a referral program. Once the researchers have identified suitable subjects,
he asks for their support in finding similar subjects so that a sufficiently
large sample can be created.

Example:
- The researchers want to know the list of homeless individuals in a
city and conduct a feeding program. And after finding a few homeless
individuals the researchers ask them to recruit more individuals they
know who are homeless to be involved in the study.

d. Differentiate probability from non-probability sampling

Pollfish stated that Probability sampling means that everyone in the population has
a chance of being sampled, and you can calculate how likely people are to be sampled.
Simple Random Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Probability
Proportional to Size Sampling, and Cluster or Multistage Sampling are all examples of
probability sampling. And they all have these similarities.

While non-probability sampling means that some of the population in the sample
has been excluded, and an exact number cannot be determined – implying that the amount
you will learn about the population from the sample is restricted.
Convenience sampling, quota sampling, and purposive sampling – or decision sampling
and snowball sampling – are examples of nonprobability sampling methods (2020)

In short, by starting with a complete sampling frame of all eligible individuals from
which you select your sample, “Probability” (random) sampling is UNBIASED, And “Non-
probability” (non-random) sampling is BIASED, because it’s not starting with a complete
sampling frame, so some individuals have no chance of being selected.

e. Use different data gathering techniques

There are four types of data collection techniques, these are the Observation,
Survey/Questionnaire, Interview and Focus Group Discussion.

Observation
- Direct observations are an easy and unobtrusive way of gathering
information. Gathering firsthand data in the field provides the researcher
with a holistic viewpoint that assists in recognizing the context in which
the item under study works or occurs (Puckett, 2018).

Example:
o A scientist want to know the reaction of the two substances by
direct observation.

Survey/Questionnaire
- Questionnaires, as we define them, it’s a data collection instruments that
will be sent to the sample subjects via mail, phone, or online. They've long
been one of the most common methods for gathering data.

Example:
o A group of students want to conduct a survey to a certain class
about what are the effects, advantages and disadvantages of
distance learning, by giving the respondents a questionnaire.

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 Interviews
- Interviews can be performed in person or over the internet, and they can
be structured (via survey forms) or unstructured.

Example:
o A researcher wants to know the personal experience of those
students who are under a broken family issues to find what is the
effects of not having a full support and attention of parents in the
academic performance of the students, so the researcher conduct
an Interview to the respondents.
Focus Group Discussion
- A focus group discussion (FGD) is a good way to get people together who
have common perspectives or experiences to speak about a particular
subject. A moderator (or group facilitator) leads the group of participants,
introducing subjects for discussion and assisting them in having a vibrant
and natural discussion among themselves (“Research Tools”, 2009)

Example:
o A person with disability (PWD) wants to conduct a gathering
session for the person the same with his situation and give
courage those who are having a hard times. So He gathered a
group of PWD and discuss their experiences to give information to
each other’s situation.

REFERENCES:

How to Determine Sample Size in Research. (2021, March 2). Qualtrics.

https://www.qualtrics.com/uk/experience-management/research/determine-
sample-size/?rid=ip&prevsite=au&newsite=uk&geo=NO&geomatch=uk

Stephanie Glen. "Margin of Error: Definition, How to Calculate in Easy Steps" From
StatisticsHowTo.com: Elementary Statistics for the rest of us!
https://www.statisticshowto.com/probability-and-statistics/hypothesis-testing/
margin-of-error/

Fleetwood, D. (2020, May 22). Non-Probability Sampling: Definition, types, Examples, and

advantages. QuestionPro. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/non-probability-

sampling/#:%7E:text=Definition%3A%20Non%2Dprobability%20sampling

%20is,the%20expertise%20of%20the%20researchers.

Probability vs Non Probability Sampling. (2020b, October 8). Pollfish Resources.

https://resources.pollfish.com/market-research/probability-and-non-probability-survey-

sampling-methods/

Puckett, S. (2018, May 10). Data Collection Techniques | Methods of Collecting Data. Fulcrum.

https://www.fulcrumapp.com/blog/field-data-collection-methods

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Research tools: focus group discussion. (2009, January). ODI 60 Years of Impact.

https://www.odi.org/publications/5695-research-tools-focus-group-discussion#:

%7E:text=A%20focus%20group%20discussion%20(FGD,a%20specific%20topic%20of

%20interest.

RATING RUBRICS

DIMENSION RATING TOTAL

Content 1 2 3 4
Quality 1 2 3 4
Format 1 2 3 4
Sequencing 1 2 3 4
Examples 1 2 3 4
References Citation 1 2 3 4
Style 1 2 3 4
Grammar and Mechanics 1 2 3 4

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