SAMPLING PROCEDURE AND THE SAMPLE

Introduction
 Determining the correct sample size and how the samples are selected are crucial in
ensuring the accuracy and precision of an estimate leading to valid research findings.
Population and Sample
 The first step in determining the sample size is identifying the population of the topic of
interest.
 POPULATION is the totality of all the objects, elements, persons, and characteristics
under consideration.
There are two types of population:
1. Target population is the actual population.
 Example: all Senior High School Students enrolled in Accountancy, Business and
Management (ABM) Strand in the Division of Nueva Ecija.
2. Accessible population is a portion of the population in which the researcher has
reasonable access
 Example: all Senior High School enrolled in ABM strand at Cabiao Senior High
School.

When the whole population is too costly or time–consuming or impractical to consider by the
researcher, then, a sample representative is identified.
 Sample is the specific group that you will collect data from.
 Its size is always less than the population.
 For example, the sample that you will be using are the two (2) sections of ABM
class of Cabiao Senior High School.
Sample Size Determination
 A sample (n) is a selection of respondents for a research study to represent the total
population (N).
 Making a decision about sample size for a survey is important.
 Too large a sample may mean a waste of resources, both human and financial.
 On the other hand, too small a sample decreases the accuracy of the results.

SLOVIN’S Formula in Determining the Sample Size

 The sample size can be obtained by the formula:

Where:
n = sample size
N = total population
e = margin of error
  Population (N) consists of members of a group that a researcher is interested in
studying the members of a group that usually have common or similar characteristics
 Margin of error is the allowable error margin in research.
 A confidence interval of 95% gives a margin of error of 5%;
 A 98% gives a margin of error of 2%;
 A 99% confidence interval gives a 1% margin of error

Example 1
 A researcher wants to conduct a survey. If the population of a big university is 35,000,
find the sample size if the margin of error is 5%.

Substituting the given data:

Sampling Procedures
 Sampling is a formal process of choosing the correct subgroup called a sample from a
population to participate in a research study.
 The subgroup shall be the representative of the large group from where they were
selected.
Two Categories:
A. Probability Sampling Procedures
 The most important characteristics of probability sampling procedure is the random
selection of the samples.
 Specifically, each sample (n) or element from the population (N) has an equal chance of
selection under a given sampling technique.
Four Probability Sampling Procedures:
1. Simple Probability Sampling
 Uses a pure chance selection process.
 Runs from making a list of all respondents, writing each name on the card,
choosing cards through a pure chance selection.
 Uses any of the following ways:
 fish bowl technique
 roulette wheel
 table of random numbers
Example: population: 30; sample: 15.
 The researcher may write all 30 names in a clean sheet of paper, place it in a bowl and
draw 15 papers out of the bowl.
2. Systematic Probability Sampling
 Uses sampling interval that will be used as quasi-random selection method.
 runs from determining sampling interval, determining the number of population
and sample and computing for the sampling ratio.
Example: population: 1500; sample: 150
 Step 1: Divide the number of elements in the population by the desired sample size. In
this case, you divide 1500 by 150 which gives a value of 10.
 Step 2: Choose a random number between one and the value you obtained from Step 1.
In this example, you choose a number between 1 and 10, let’s say you choose 5.
 Step 3: Starting with the number you picked which is 5, you take every tenth (10th)
(from Step 1) and you use 5 as your starting point. Thus, you have to select the samples
whose numbers are 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 and so on until you reach the desired sample size of
150.
3. Stratified Probability Sampling
 In this type of probability sampling procedure, the population is first divided into
two or more mutually exclusive categories based on your variables of interest in
the research study.
 The population is organized into homogeneous subsets before drawing the
samples.
 With stratified random sampling, the population is divided into subpopulation
called strata.
Example:
 Divide each number of students per level by the total population of 1200 and then
multiply by the desired sample size of 300.

4. Cluster Probability Sampling

 Most large scale surveys use cluster sampling method.
 Cluster sampling is used when the target respondents in a research study is
spread across a geographical location.
 In this method, the population is divided into groups called clusters which are
heterogeneous in nature and are mutually exclusive.
 A random sampling technique is used on relevant clusters to be included in the
study.
Example: population: 1000; sample: 150
 The researcher can randomly select at least three (3) groups with 50 participants to
represent the sample
B. Non-Probability Sampling Procedures
 There are situations when the researcher cannot employ random selection.
 In cases where probability sampling is not applicable, you may consider some
non-probability sampling alternatives
1. Quota Sampling
 Is used when the researcher knows the characteristics of the target population.
 Is used when the budget is tight and time is limited for the study.
 Example: population: 200 (100 males and 100 females) sample: 100 (25% males
and 75% females).
2. Voluntary Sampling
 Is a sampling technique wherein the subjects for the study are the ones
volunteering to be part of the sample.
 Has no selection process.
 Example: The researcher puts out a request from the members of the population
to join the sample, and the people will decide whether or not to be in sample.
3. Purposive or Judgmental Sampling
 Is used when the researcher chooses the people who are sure to correspond to
the objectives of the study.
 Example: The study is about choosing a course in college. The researcher will
interview students who will pursue college education.
4. Availability Sampling
 Is used when the researcher automatically includes the persons who show
willingness to participate in the study.
 Also known as convenience sampling
 Example: A marketing student needs to get feedback regarding the taste of a
new variant of certain food endorsed in the market. He can create an online
survey, send a link to all the contacts on his phone, share the link in social media,
and talk to people he met on a daily basis.
5. Snowball Sampling
 Does not give a specific set of samples.
 Is used for a study involving unspecified group of people
 Example: a researcher is conducting a study among homeless Badjao families in
Bataan. The first homeless Badjao family he met will be the primary data. The
researcher can collect data from other homeless Badjao families who are
referred by the first Badjao family. Referral of other homeless Badjao family may
continue until the researcher completed the number of Badjao families he will
include in the study.