Sampling Techniques

Census Survey vs Sample Survey

Census Survey the process of collecting data
or Complete from every element in the population
Enumeration

Sample the process of collecting data from

Survey a subset of the population

Advantages of Sample Survey

. reduced cost
. greater speed
. greater scope
. easier to minimize measurement errors
 Target vs Sampled Population

Target the population from which

Population information is desired

Sampled the population from which

Population sample is actually selected
Example:

A mid-sized university with total enrollment of 12,000 students wishes

to estimate the average monthly expenditure of students on
photocopying.

Sampling Scheme A: select sample of students from the Office of the

University Registrar’s list of registered students
Sampling Scheme B: select a sample of classrooms among the 150 that
have classes at 10:00 a.m. on Mondays; then, select
a sample of students from the selected classes

What are the target and sampled populations in both schemes?

Notes:
• Ideally, the sampled population must be as close as possible to the target
population. This is because the sample was selected from the sampled
population and so the data taken from this sample will allow us to infer
only on the sampled population.

• However, we also need to consider the resources needed to implement

the scheme vis-à-vis the available resources.
 Sampling vs Nonsampling Errors
Sampling attributed to the variation present
Error among the computed values of the statistic
from the different possible samples
consisting of n elements

Nonsampling attributable to other factors

Error
 Example:
Population data={1, 5, 8, 10, 12}
Population mean (average) = 7.2

Sampling method: All possible subsets containing n distinct elements

will be given equal chances of selection
Statistic: Sample mean (average)
n=4

Sample mean 6 6.5 7 7.75 8.75

No. of 1 1 1 1 1
samples
Samples 1,5,8,10 1,5,8,12 1,5,10,12 1,8,10,12 5,8,10,12

n=3
Sample 4.67 5.33 6 6.33 7 7.67 8.33 9 10
mean
No. of 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1
samples
 Sources of Nonsampling Errors

• Deterioration of list or map from where the

sample is selected
• Measurement errors
• Nonresponse bias
• Response bias
• Data collector’s bias
• Errors in editing, coding, and tabulating results
 Probability and Nonprobability Sampling

Probability procedure wherein every

Sampling element of the population
is given a known nonzero
chance of being included in
the sample

Nonprobability procedure wherein the

Sampling chance that an element will be
included in the sample cannot be
determined or is equal to 0
 Methods of Probability Sampling
• Simple Random Sampling (SRS)

Description of the Design

An SRS of n observations of the population is a sample that

is chosen in such a way that each subset of n elements of
the population has the same chance of being selected.
Consequently, all elements of the population have equal
chances of being included in the sample.

Simple random sampling may be with replacement

(SRSWR) or without replacement (SRSWOR). In SRSWR, a
chosen element is always replaced before the next selection
is made, so that an element may be chosen more than once.
Sample Selection Procedure

1. Obtain a list of all the elements in the population and number them from
1 to N, where N is the population size.

2. Select n (distinct for SRSWOR, not necessarily distinct for SRSWR)

random numbers from 1 to N using some random process; for example, a
random number generator, or the table of random numbers or lottery.
The sample consists of the elements corresponding to the selected
random numbers.
Aside: Installing Excel Analysis ToolPak

1.Click Office Button

2.Click Excel Options bar

3.Choose Add-ins. Choose Excel Add-ins in Manage box then

click Go.

4.Check Analysis ToolPak and Analysis ToolPak-VBA then click

OK.
Using Excel Analysis ToolPak to Generate n Numbers from {1,2,…,N}

1. In Column A, enter the numbers from 1 to N in Rows 1 to N.

2. In Column B, enter the formula =1/N from Rows 1 to N.
3. Choose Data in Menu bar. Click Data Analysis.
4. Select Random Number Generation. Click OK.
5. Fill-up dialogue box:
 Number of vars = 1
 Number of random numbers = n
 Distribution = Discrete
 Value and probability input range: cells containing values 1 to
N and corresponding probs.
 Seed number: any positive integer less than 215
Example
A random sample of 4 barangays is to be drawn out of the 27
barangays in Mandaluyong City. Use the table of random
numbers (see Appendix B1) to determine which of the
barangays listed below are to be included in the sample.

Addition Hills Hagdang Bato Itaas New Zaniga

Bagong Silang Hagdang Bato Libis Old Zaniga
Barangka Drive Harapin Ang Bukas Pag-asa
Barangka Ibaba Highway Hills Plainview
Barangka Ilaya Hulo Pleasant Hills
Barangka Itaas Mabini-J.Rizal Poblacion
Buayang Bato Malamig San Jose
Burol Mauway Vergara
Daang Bakal Namayan Wack-wack
Greenhills
Advantages

• The theory involved is much easier to understand than the

theory behind other sampling designs.
• Estimation methods are simple and easy.

Disadvantages

• The sample chosen may be widely spread, thus entailing

higher transportation costs.
• A population list of all the elements is needed before the
sample can be selected.
• When the elements of the population are heterogeneous
with respect to the characteristic under study, SRS requires
a much larger sample size compared to other methods if
we want to expect small sampling error.
• Stratified Random Sampling

Description of the Design

There are cases wherein the population consists of

elements which are heterogeneous with respect to the
characteristic under study. In such situations the
population should be divided, or stratified, into more or
less homogeneous subpopulations or strata before
sampling is done.

Stratified random sampling then consists of selecting an

SRS from each of the strata into which the population
has been divided.
Sample Selection Procedure

1. Stratify the population into strata so that ideally

each stratum will consist of more or less
homogeneous units.

2. After the population has been stratified, an SRS

is selected from each stratum.
Example

• Variable of interest: farm production

• Parameter of interest: total farm production
• Stratification variable: size of farm with
categories (1) small, (2) medium, (3) large

How does this compare with SRS?

Choosing the Stratification Variable

Identify an appropriate stratification variable for the

following variables under study:

• Height of schoolchildren in an elementary school

• Annual earnings of UP graduates since 1990

Advantages

• Stratification may bring about a gain in precision of

the estimates of characteristics of the population.
• It allows for more comprehensive data analysis since
information is provided for each stratum.
• It is administratively convenient.

Disadvantages

• A listing of all the elements in each stratum is

needed.
• The stratification of the population may require
additional prior information about the population
and its strata.
• (1-in-k) Systematic Sampling

Description of the Design

Systematic sampling with a random start is a method of
selecting a sample by taking every k th unit from an ordered
population, the first unit being selected at random. Here k
is called the sampling interval and 1/k the sampling
fraction.

Sample Selection Procedure (for n that is a divisor of N)

1. Number the units of the population consecutively from 1
to N.
2. Determine k by the formula
k = N / n = population size/sample size
3. Select the random start r (from 1 to k). The unit
corresponding to r is the first unit of the sample.
4. The other units of the sample correspond to the
labels, r + k, r + 2k, ..., r+(n-1)k
Example

A medical investigator is interested in obtaining

information about the average number of times N =
15,000 specialists prescribed a certain drug in the
previous year. To obtain a sample of n = 500
specialists, we could select one specialist at random
from the first k = 30 names appearing on the list and
then select every 30th name thereafter until a sample
of size 500 is selected.
Advantages

• Drawing of the sample is administratively easy.

• It is possible to select a sample in the field
without a frame.

Disadvantage

• If periodic regularities are found in the list, a

systematic sample may consist only of similar
types.
• Cluster Sampling

Description of the Design

Cluster sampling is a method of selecting a sample of
distinct groups of elements called clusters. The sample
clusters may be chosen by SRS or by systematic
sampling. Similar to strata in stratified sampling,
clusters are mutually exclusive subpopulations which
together comprise the entire population. Unlike strata,
however, clusters preferably consist of heterogeneous
elements so that each cluster will be typical of the
population.

The number of clusters C in the population is called

the size of the population of clusters. Clusters may be
of equal or unequal sizes.
Sample Selection Procedure

1. List the clusters and number them from 1 to C.

2. Randomly select n numbers from 1 to C. The
clusters corresponding to the selected numbers
form the sample of clusters.
3. Observe all the elements in each sample cluster.

Example

A forester wishes to estimate the average height of

coconut trees on a plantation. The plantation is
divided into 386 plots. An SRS of 20 is selected and
all trees on the sampled plots are measured.
Advantages

• Only a population list of clusters is needed.

This is convenient especially if a population
list of elements is not available.
• Listing cost is reduced.

Disadvantages

• The costs and problems of statistical

analysis are greater.
• Estimation procedures are difficult.
• Multistage Sampling
Description of the Design
In multistage sampling the selection of the sample is
accomplished in two or more steps. The population
is first divided into a number of first-stage or
primary units, from which a sample is drawn.
Within the sampled first-stage units, a sample of
second-stage or secondary units is drawn. If
desired, one might add further stages, dividing the
population into a hierarchy of sampling units
corresponding to the different sampling stages.
Example

The following is one possible setup of nationwide surveys .

Stage Sample

Primary Region

Secondary Province

Third-Stage Municipality/
City
Fourth-Stage Barangay

Fifth-Stage Household
Advantages

• Listing cost is reduced.

• Transportation cost is reduced.

Disadvantages

• Estimation procedures are difficult, especially when

the first-stage units are not of the same size.
• The sampling procedure entails much planning
before selection is done.
 Methods of Nonprobability Sampling
(methods that do not involve the use of some random process)

Convenience Sampling chooses units which come to

hand or are convenient

Purposive Sampling sets out to make the sample agree

with the population in regard to
certain characteristics by purposively
choosing clusters of elements that
resemble the distribution of the
population based on available data

Quota Sampling a specific number of elements are

selected from different
subpopulations
 Cases Wherein
Nonprobability Sampling is Useful

• Researchers do not have enough resources to

implement probability sampling.
• There are very few respondents who are willing to
be interviewed.
• It is extremely difficult to locate or identify subjects.