SAMPLE AND

SAMPLING METHODS
PRESENTERS:
EMILY MUKUNA: MSCN/2019/48432
ANDREW ANGUTE MSCN/2019/55010
TABITHA KINUTHIA MSCN/2019/49440
LECTURER: DR. JOHN KARIUKI
OBJECTIVES
 At the end of this presentation, the learner
should be able to:
 Define terms such as sample, population, target
population
 Discuss the purpose of sampling
 Describe random sampling methods
 Describe non- probability sampling methods
 Each of their merits and demerits
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
 Sampling - the process of selecting
representative units of a population for study in
a research, or to obtain information regarding an
event.
 Population – the entire group/ elements/ cases
with the set criteria of interest to the
researcher from which a sample is selected.
 Therefore a sample is a subset of the entire
population.
SAMPLE AND POPULATION
 Target population- refers to the entire group
that the researcher is interested in generalizing
the conclusions.
 It
usually has varying characteristics also known as
theoretical population.
 Accessible population- the aggregate of cases
that conform to designated criteria & are
accessible to the researcher.
 Inaccessiblepopulation- characterized as having
socio-demographic attributes associated with high
medical needs. E.g. MSM, commercial sex workers.
 Samplingframe: is the listing of all population
elements from which the sample will be drawn.
 Sampling design: the procedure or technique of
used in sampling units from which conclusions are
made e.g random sampling method
 Sampling error: differences between sample/
statistical values & the population. E.g the
average age of the population being different
from that of the sample.
 Sampling bias: the over or under representation
of a population unit on a characteristic relevant
to the study.
PURPOSE OF SAMPLING
 Economical: in terms of money & time
 It is less time-consuming & less costly than a
census
 Leads to greater accuracy -the volume of work
is reduced, resulting to careful execution of the
study.
 Results in intensive and exhaustive data
 Used in inaccessible populations
METHODS OF SAMPLING
Probability sampling or Non- probability sampling
random sampling

Simple random sampling Convenience Sampling

Stratified Random Purposive Sampling

Sampling
Systematic Random Quota Sampling
Sampling
Cluster Sampling Snowball Sampling

Sequential Sampling
PROBABILITY OR RANDOM
SAMPLING
 The random selection of elements from the
population.
 Each element has an equal & independent chance
of being included in the sample
 Eliminates biasness
 How can a random sample be drawn?
3 basic procedures
 Lottery method
 Picking a shuffled random paper with the tagged
number
 The use of table of random numbers
 Random table present several numbers in rows &
columns.
 The researcher initially prepares a numbered list
of the members of the population, &
 then with a blindfold chooses a number from the
random table.
 The use of computer
 The computer can be programmed to printout a
series of random numbers as the researcher
desires.
A. SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING
 Everymember of population has an equal chance
of being selected as subject
 Merits

 Requiresminimal knowledge about the population

in advance
 Free from classification errors
 Samplingerrors can be easily computes & the
accuracy of the estimate easily assessed.
 Demerits

 Laborious if the sampling frame is too large

B. STRATIFIED RANDOM
SAMPLING
 The population is first divided into 2 or more
strata based on their homogeneity.
 Merits

 Ensures representation of the different

subgroups of the population
 Demerits

 Its time consuming

 Possibility of faulty classification
C. SYSTEMATIC RANDOM
SAMPLING
 Involvesselecting every ‘k’th case from the list,
such as every 10th person on a patient list.
 The interval between sample units is fixed
 Merits

 Convenient and easy to use.

 Distributionof sample is evenly distributed over
the population.
 Cheaper and requires less time.
 Demerits

 May lead to bias.

 The sampling technique can coincide with the

periodicity of the underlying pattern.
D. CLUSTER OR MULTISTAGE
SAMPLING
 Random selection of sampling units consisting of
groups or clusters & not individuals or cases.

 This method is used when it is not possible to

obtain a sampling frame because,

 the population is either too large or scattered

over a large geographical area.
 Merits

 Convenient to apply when large populations are

studied or a scattered population
 Cheap & requires minimal time

 Demerits

 The cluster sizes may vary & this could increase

biasness of the resulting sample
 Sampling error is greater with this method

 It is the least representative method

STRATIFIED VERSES CLUSTER
SAMPLING
 In stratified- a sample is randomly drawn from
each strata
 while in the cluster sampling, the sampling unit is
the whole cluster that are randomly selected

E. SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING
 The sample size is not fixed
 Involves use of a very small sample to draw
inference on the basis of that sample.
 If no clear-cut inference is possible the
researcher adds some more units to the sample &
weighs it to see if the inference can be drawn
 Merits

 It permits use of a small sample

 Demerits

 Cannot be used to study a phenomenon which

needs to be studied at one point
NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
TECHNIQUE
A sampling technique that does not give the
individuals/ elements an equal chance of being
selected.
 This
method selects samples that appear
convenient to the researcher
 Disadvantage of this method is that the
results obtained cannot be generalized
beyond the study’s sample
A. CONVENIENCE SAMPLING
 also called accidental sampling
 Samples are obtained simply because of their
accessibility to the researcher.
 Used for simple purposes such as testing ideas or
gaining ideas about a subject of interest.
 Merits

 It is the cheapest and simplest

 Does not require a list of population

 Does not require any statistical expertise

 Demerits

 Highly biased

 The findings cannot be generalized

B. QUOTA SAMPLING
 Theresearcher ensures equal or proportionate
representation of quotas, depending on the
selected traits.
 Thebases of the quota are usually age, gender,
education, race, religion, & socio-economic status.
 Merits

 Takes less time & no need for a list of population

 Suitablefor studies where the fieldwork has to
be carried out, like studies related to market &
public opinion polls.
 Demerits

 It not represent all population

 In the process of sampling these subgroups,
other traits in the sample may be
overrepresented.
 Not possible to estimate errors.
 Subject to biasness
C. SNOWBALL SAMPLING
 Also known as nominated sampling
 The researcher identifies one individual who is
of interest to the research & then
 Asksthe respondent to recommend or nominate
others who might be similar & of interest to the
study.
 Used in identification of samples that are hard
to locate such as commercial sex workers, drug
abusers, etc.
 This
type of sampling technique works like chain
referral.
 Merits

 Useful
in studying social groups that are
otherwise hard to reach
 Demerits

 Representativeness of the sample is not

guaranteed.
 Sampling bias
 Difficult
to apply this method when the
population is large
PURPOSIVE OR JUDGMENTAL
SAMPLING
 Samples are selected because they are
identified as knowledgeable.

 The researcher believes that some subjects are

fit for research compared to other individual.

 It is subjective as the results can be influenced

by the preconceived notions of a researcher.
 Merits

 Simpe to draw & useful in exploratory

investigations
 Less costly & involves less fieldwork
 More representative
 Demerits

 Not always reliable

 Subject to biasness
REFERENCES
 Basavanthapa, B. (2014). Nursing Research & Statistics. New Delhi:
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Ltd.
 Polit, D. F., & Beck , T. C. (2012). Nursing Research: Generating &
Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice In Sampling (pp. 278-282).
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins .
 Surresh, K.,SV.Thomas.(2011). Design, data analysis & sampling
techniques for clinical research. Journal of indian academy of
neurology. 14
 Ben-Shlomo Y, Brookes S, Hickman M. (2013). Lecture
Notes: Epidemiology, Evidence-based Medicine and Public
Health (6th ed.), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford.