Mixed Cohort

Research Methodology

Sampling Techniques

Dr. Owais Raza

PhD (Epidemiology)

Assistant Professor
School of Public Health
Dow University of Health Sciences
Objectives

• By the end of this session you should be able to:

• Identify & define population to be studied
• Differentiate probability & non-probability sampling techniques
• Describe various methods of probability sampling and their use

2
Research Methodology
Importance

• Do we always need a sample for a research?

• To answer this, you would first need to answer what is the total size of
the population of your interest?

3
Research Methodology
Population vs Sample

4
Research Methodology
Unit of Analysis

o Each study population consists of study units or unit of analysis

5
Research Methodology
 Sampling

• SAMPLING is the process of selecting a number of study units from a

defined study population
• Representativeness
• If researchers want to draw conclusions which are valid for the whole
study population
• Representativeness is more important issue in quantitative study than
qualitative study
6
Research Methodology
 Sampling Methods

• Two main types of sampling:

• Probability sampling
• Non – probability sampling

7
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling

• Systematic sampling

• Stratified sampling

• Cluster sampling

• Multi-stage sampling

8
Research Methodology
Non Probability Sampling

• Purposive sampling
• Snowball sampling
• Extreme case sampling
• Typical case sampling
• Critical case sampling

• Convenience sampling

• Consecutive sampling
9
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • Make a numbered list of all the units in

• Systematic sampling the population

• Decide on the sample size
• Stratified sampling
• Select the required number of sampling
• Cluster sampling
units, using table of random number,
• Multi-stage sampling lottery method or computer generated
random numbers.
10
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling
• A simple random sample of 50 students is to be
• Simple random sampling
selected from a school of 250 students. Using a
• Systematic sampling list of all 250 students, each student is given a
number (1 to 250), and these numbers are
• Stratified sampling written on small pieces of paper. All the 250
papers are put in a box, after which the box is
• Cluster sampling
shaken vigorously, to ensure randomization.
• Multi-stage sampling Then, 50 papers are taken out of the box, and
the numbers are recorded. The students
belonging to these numbers will constitute the
sample. 11
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • Individuals are chosen at regular

• Systematic sampling intervals (e.g., every 5th) from the

sampling frame
• Stratified sampling

• Cluster sampling

• Multi-stage sampling

12
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling
• A systematic sample is to be selected from 1200 students
• Simple random sampling
of a school. The sample size selected is 100.
• First calculate sampling interval (SI):
• Systematic sampling

• Stratified sampling • The number of the first student to be included in the

sample is chosen randomly, for example by blindly
• Cluster sampling picking one out of twelve pieces of paper, numbered 1 to
12
• Multi-stage sampling • If # 6 is picked, then every twelfth student will be
included in the sample, starting with student # 6, until
100 students are selected: the numbers selected would be
6, 18, 30, 42, … 13
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • Sampling frame must be divided into

• Systematic sampling groups, according to characteristics.

• Random or systematic samples of a pre-
• Stratified sampling
determined size will then have to be
• Cluster sampling
obtained from each group (stratum)
• Multi-stage sampling

14
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling
• A survey is conducted on household water supply in a
• Simple random sampling
district comprising 20,000 households, of which 20% are
• Systematic sampling urban and 80% rural. A decision is made to include 100
urban households (out of 4000, which gives a 1 in 40
• Stratified sampling sample) and 200 rural households (out of 16000, which
gives a 1 in 80 sample)
• Cluster sampling

• Multi-stage sampling Strata Urban Rural Total

# of people 4,000 16,000 20,000
Stratum sample size 60 240 300
15
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • The population is split into a large

• Systematic sampling number of small groups called clusters

• Stratified sampling

• Cluster sampling

• Multi-stage sampling

16
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • In a study of the knowledge, attitudes

• Systematic sampling and practices (KAP) related to family

planning in rural communities of a
• Stratified sampling
district, a list is made of all the villages.
• Cluster sampling
Using this list, a random sample of
• Multi-stage sampling villages is chosen and all study units in
the selected villages are interviewed.
17
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling • In large and diverse populations sampling

may be done in two or more stages.
• Systematic sampling
• This is often the case in community-based
• Stratified sampling
studies, in which people are to be
• Cluster sampling interviewed from different villages, and the

• Multi-stage sampling villages have to be chosen from different

areas.

18
Research Methodology
Probability Sampling

• Simple random sampling

• Systematic sampling

• Stratified sampling

• Cluster sampling

• Multi-stage sampling

19
Research Methodology
Resource
• https://bookdown.org/pkaldunn/Book/Sampling.html

20
Research Methodology
Thanks

21
Research Methodology