RESEARCH METHOD

SAMPLING

11/18/2024

name: NANDA KUMAR

STUDENT ID: 2400
COURSE: PGD FSRL
SEMESTER: SEM - 1
Introduction

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population. Sampling

means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your
research. For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in
your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students. In research,
sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a
population.

 The population is the entire group that you want to draw

conclusions about.
 The sample is the specific group of individuals that you will
collect data from.

It can be very broad or quite narrow: maybe you want to make inferences
about the whole adult population of your country; maybe your research
focuses on customers of a certain company, patients with a specific health
condition, or students in a single school.

It is important to carefully define your target population according to the

purpose and practicalities of your project.

If the population is very large, demographically mixed, and geographically

dispersed, it might be difficult to gain access to a representative sample.
A lack of a representative sample affects the validity of your results, and
can lead to several research biases, particularly sampling bias.

Sampling frame

The sampling frame is the actual list of individuals that the sample will be
drawn from. Ideally, it should include the entire target population (and
nobody who is not part of that population).

Example: You are doing research on working conditions at a social media

marketing company. Your population is all 1000 employees of the
company. Your sampling frame is the company’s HR database, which lists
the names and contact details of every employee.
Sample size

The number of individuals you should include in your sample depends on

various factors, including the size and variability of the population and
your research design. There are different sample size calculators and
formulas depending on what you want to achieve with statistical analysis.

In Statistics, the sampling method or sampling technique is the

process of studying the population by gathering information and analyzing
that data. It is the basis of the data where the sample space is enormous.

There are several different sampling techniques available, and they can
be subdivided into two groups. All these methods of sampling may involve
specifically targeting hard or approach to reach groups.

Types of Sampling Method

In Statistics, there are different sampling techniques available to get

relevant results from the population. The two different types of sampling
methods are::

 Probability Sampling

 Non-probability Sampling
Probability Sampling

The probability sampling method utilizes some form of random selection.

In this method, all the eligible individuals have a chance of selecting the
sample from the whole sample space. This method is more time
consuming and expensive than the non-probability sampling method. The
benefit of using probability sampling is that it guarantees the sample that
should be the representative of the population.

Probability Sampling Types

Probability Sampling methods are further classified into different types,

such as simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified
sampling, and clustered sampling.

Simple Random Sampling

In simple random sampling technique, every item in the population has an

equal and likely chance of being selected in the sample. Since the item
selection entirely depends on the chance, this method is known as
“Method of chance Selection”. As the sample size is large, and the
item is chosen randomly, it is known as “Representative Sampling”.

Example:

Suppose we want to select a simple random sample of 200 students from

a school. Here, we can assign a number to every student in the school
database from 1 to 500 and use a random number generator to select a
sample of 200 numbers.

Systematic Sampling

In the systematic sampling method, the items are selected from the target
population by selecting the random selection point and selecting the other
methods after a fixed sample interval. It is calculated by dividing the total
population size by the desired population size.

Example:

Suppose the names of 300 students of a school are sorted in the reverse
alphabetical order. To select a sample in a systematic sampling method,
we have to choose some 15 students by randomly selecting a starting
number, say 5. From number 5 onwards, will select every 15th person
from the sorted list. Finally, we end up with a sample of some students.
Stratified Sampling

In a stratified sampling method, the total population is divided into smaller

groups to complete the sampling process. The small group is formed
based on a few characteristics in the population. After separating the
population into a smaller group, the statisticians randomly select the
sample.

Example:

There are three bags (A, B and C), each with different balls. Bag A has 50
balls, bag B has 100 balls, and bag C has 200 balls. We have to choose a
sample of balls from each bag proportionally. Suppose 5 balls from bag A,
10 balls from bag B and 20 balls from bag

Clustered Sampling

In the clustered sampling method, the cluster or group of people are

formed from the population set. The group has similar significatory
characteristics. Also, they have an equal chance of being a part of the
sample. This method uses simple random sampling for the cluster of
population.

Example:

An educational institution has ten branches across the country with almost
the number of students. If we want to collect some data regarding
facilities and other things, we can’t travel to every unit to collect the
required data. Hence, we can use random sampling to select three or four
branches as clusters.
Non-Probability Sampling

The non-probability sampling method is a technique in which the

researcher selects the sample based on subjective judgment rather than
the random selection. In this method, not all the members of the
population have a chance to participate in the study.

Non-Probability Sampling Types

Non-probability Sampling methods are further classified into different

types, such as convenience sampling, consecutive sampling, quota
sampling, judgmental sampling, snowball sampling. Here, let us discuss all
these types of non-probability sampling in detail.

Convenience Sampling

In a convenience sampling method, the samples are selected from the

population directly because they are conveniently available for the
researcher. The samples are easy to select, and the researcher did not
choose the sample that outlines the entire population.

Example:

In researching customer support services in a particular region, we ask

your few customers to complete a survey on the products after the
purchase. This is a convenient way to collect data. Still, as we only
surveyed customers taking the same product. At the same time, the
sample is not representative of all the customers in that area.

Consecutive Sampling

Consecutive sampling is similar to convenience sampling with a slight

variation. The researcher picks a single person or a group of people for
sampling. Then the researcher researches for a period of time to analyze
the result and move to another group if needed.

Quota Sampling

In the quota sampling method, the researcher forms a sample that

involves the individuals to represent the population based on specific
traits or qualities. The researcher chooses the sample subsets that bring
the useful collection of data that generalizes the entire population.

Purposive or Judgmental Sampling

In purposive sampling, the samples are selected only based on the

researcher’s knowledge. As their knowledge is instrumental in creating the
samples, there are the chances of obtaining highly accurate answers with
a minimum marginal error.

Snowball Sampling

Snowball sampling is also known as a chain-referral sampling technique.

In this method, the samples have traits that are difficult to find. So, each
identified member of a population is asked to find the other sampling
units. Those sampling units also belong to the same targeted population.
 Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling

Probability Sampling is a
Non-probability sampling method
sampling technique in which
is a technique in which the
samples taken from a larger
researcher chooses samples
population are chosen based
based on subjective judgment,
on probability theory.
preferably random selection.

These are also known as These are also called non-random

Random sampling methods. sampling methods.

These are used for research These are used for research which
which is conclusive. is exploratory.

These involve a long time to get the These are easy ways to collect
data. the data quickly.
There is an underlying
hypothesis in probability
The hypothesis is derived later by
sampling before the study
conducting the research study in the
starts. Also, the objective of this
case of non-probability sampling
method is to validate the
defined hypothesis.

Sampling Error

The next crucial concept after sampling distribution is sampling error.

Sampling error indicates the precision of the statistical estimate with a
lower value meaning that the sample is more precise.

It is calculated by looking at the variability or range in the sampling

distribution, known as the standard error. The sampling error is derived
from the standard deviation of the samples.

If the standard deviation is less in the samples, there is less variability in

the sampling distribution (less stand error), leading to low sampling error.
There are many ways to reduce sampling error.

The most common way is to increase the sample size. As bigger the
sample size, the closer the sample is to the population.
Conclusion

Sampling techniques are very useful and valuable because the data can
be collected from the samples easily as compared to the census method.
So also sampling techniques help the researcher to concentrate and study
a portion of the universe thus making the research work manageable and
feasible. There are many sampling techniques available to a researcher
and each sampling technique has got a significance of its own.

The research should have detailed knowledge of the universe as well as

the various sampling techniques and then he should choose the most
suitable sampling technique. All the sampling techniques are helpful in
collecting data. However if a sampling error exists then the advantage of
the sampling is lost and erroneous data is collected resulting into
erroneous conclusions. So it is said that sampling technique has the
potential of either making or wrecking of the research conclusions.
 References

1. Sampling Techniques by Bhagyashree Deshpande and Anuradha

Girme

2. Research Methodology (Methods and Techniques) by CR Kothari

3. Methods of Social Research by Bailey, Kenneth D.

4. The Design of Social Research by Ackoff, Russell L.