Sampling and Sampling
Methods
Learning outcomes
• able to distinguish between a sample and a
population
• explain the reasons for sampling
• explain the different types of sampling methods
• explain when it is appropriate to choose each
sampling method
Sample and population
• A population is the collection of all the elements
of interest.
• A sample is a subset of a population.
– A sample must be representative of its target population.
– A researcher hopes to obtain a sample that represents the
population, at least in the variables of interest for the issue being
examined.
– Probabilistic samples are samples selected using the principles
of probability.
– This may allow a researcher to determine the sampling
distribution of a sample statistic.
– If so, the researcher can determine the probability of any given
sampling error and make statistical inferences about population
characteristics.
Methods of sampling – nonprobabilistic
• Def: A sampling method where the sample members are
not selected randomly.
Four types of non-probability sampling methods:
• Convenience sampling: sample is drawn to suit the
convenience of the researcher
e.g: select a particular university on preferences of fizzy
drinks.
• Judgement sampling: researcher use their judgement
to select the best sampling units to include in the sample
e.g select only top performing students to represent the
institution abroad for
only professional football players are selected and
interviewed on the need for rule changes in the sport
Methods of sampling: non-probabilistic
• Quota sampling – obtain a cross-section of a
population, e.g. by age and sex for individuals or by
region, firm size, and industry for businesses. This may
be reasonably representative.
• Snowball sampling: it is used when it is not easy to
identify the members of the target population for reasons
of sensitivity or confidentiality(gangster activity, drug
addiction, sexuality, studies related to HIV/AIDS)
Disadvantages of non-
probability sampling
• Samples are likely to be unrepresentative
of their target population
• Introduces bias into the statistical findings
• It is not possible to measure the sampling
error from data based on a non-probability
sample
Methods of sampling – probabilistic
• Simple random sampling – each member has an
equal probability of being selected.
• Systematic – used when a sampling frame exists.
Sampling begins by randomly selecting the first samling
unit. Thereafter subsequent sampling units are selected
at uniform interval relative to the first sampling unit
Equivalent to random if patterns in list are unrelated to
issues of interest.
• Stratified samples – sample from each stratum or
subgroup of a population eg. region, size of firm.
Probabilistic sampling
• Cluster samples – sample only certain clusters of
members of a population
• Each cluster is similar in profile to every other cluster
• e.g. city blocks, accountants cluster within accounting
firms.
• Homework: read on the advantages and disadvantages
of probability sampling
Sampling distributions
• A sampling distribution is the probability distribution for
all possible values of the sample statistic.
• Each sample contains different elements so the value of
the sample statistic differs for each sample selected.
These statistics provide different estimates of the
parameter. The sampling distribution describes how
these different values are distributed.
• For the most part, we will work with the sampling
distribution of the sample mean. With the sampling
distribution of ͞x, we can “make probability statements
about how close the sample mean is to the population
mean μ”. Alternatively, it provides a way of determining
the probability of various levels of sampling error.
Sampling distribution of the sample mean
• When a sample is selected, the sampling method may allow
the researcher to determine the sampling distribution of the
sample mean ͞x. The researcher hopes that the mean of
the sampling distribution will be μ, the mean of the
population. If this occurs, then the expected value of the
statistic ͞x is μ. This characteristic of the sample mean is
that of being an unbiased estimator of μ. In this case,
E (x )
• If the variance of the sampling distribution can be
determined, then the researcher is able to determine how
variable ͞x is when there are repeated samples. The
researcher hopes to have a small variability for the sample
means, so most estimates of μ are close to μ.
Sampling distribution of the sample mean
when random sampling
• If a simple random sample is drawn from a normally
distributed population, the sampling distribution of ͞x is
normally distributed.
• The mean of the distribution of x is μ, the population
mean.
• If the sample size n is a reasonably small proportion of
the population size, then the standard deviation of x
is the population standard deviation σ divided by the
square root of the sample size. That is, samples that
contain, say, less than 5% of the population elements,
the finite population correction factor is not required
since it does not alter results much.
Random sample from a normally
distributed population
Normally Sampling distribution of ͞x when
distributed sample is random
population
No. of elements N n
Mean μ μ
Standard deviation σ x
n
Note: If n/N > 0.05, it may be best to use the
finite population correction factor .
• [Link]
SunilKumar148/sampling-and-sample-
types
