Sampling procedure and sampling
methods
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Sampling procedure and…
• Researchers often use sample survey methodology to
obtain information
– about a larger population by selecting and measuring a sample
from that population
• Since population is too large, we rely on the information
collected from the sample
– Cost minimization
• Inferences about the population are based on the
information from the sample drawn from that population 2
Sampling
• The process of selecting a portion of the population to
represent the entire population
• A main concern in sampling:
– Ensure that the sample represents the population,
and
– The findings can be generalized
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Sampling procedure and…
Sample Information
Population
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Advantages of sampling:
• Feasibility: Sampling may be the only feasible method of
collecting information.
• Reduced cost: Sampling reduces demands on resource such
as finance, personnel, and material.
• Greater accuracy: Sampling may lead to better accuracy of
collecting data
• Greater speed: Data can be collected and summarized more
quickly
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Disadvantages of sampling:
• There is always a sampling error (errors introduced due
in the selection of a sample)
• Sampling may create a feeling of discrimination within
the population.
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Sampling…
While selecting a SAMPLE, there are basic questions:
– What is the group of people (STUDY POPULATION)
from which we want to draw a sample?
– How many people do we need in our sample?
– How will these people be selected?
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Terms used during sampling
• Reference population (or target population):
– the population of interest to whom the researchers would like
to make generalizations
• Sampling population: the subset of the target population
from which a sample will be drawn.
• Study population: the actual group in which the study is
conducted = Sample
• Study unit: the units on which information will be
collected: persons, housing units, etc. 8
Researchers are interested to know about factors
associated with ART use among HIV/AIDS patients
attending certain hospitals in a given Region
Target population = All ART
patients in the Region
Sampling population = All
ART patients in, e.g. 3,
hospitals in the Region
Sample
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Sampling Methods
Two broad divisions:
A. Probability sampling methods
B. Non-probability sampling methods
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A. Probability sampling
• Involves random selection of a sample
• Every sampling unit has a known and non-zero
probability of being selected into the sample
• Involves the selection of a sample from a population,
based on chance
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Most common probability sampling methods
1. Simple random sampling
2. Systematic random sampling
3. Stratified random sampling
4. Cluster sampling
5. Multi-stage sampling
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1. Simple random sampling
• The required number of individuals are selected at
random from the sampling frame, a list or a database of
all individuals in the population
• Each member of the population has an equal chance of
being included in the sample
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Simple random sampling
• To use a SRS method:
– Make a numbered list of all the units in the population
– Each unit should be numbered from 1 to N (where N is the
size of the population)
– Select the required number.
• The randomness of the sample is ensured by:
– Use of “lottery’ methods
– Computer programs
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Simple random sampling…
• SRS has certain limitations:
– Requires a sampling frame
– Difficult if the reference population is dispersed
– Minority subgroups of interest may not be selected
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2. Systematic random sampling
• Sometimes called interval sampling
• Selection of individuals from the sampling frame
systematically rather than randomly
• Individuals are taken at regular intervals down the list
• The starting point is chosen at random
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Systematic random sampling…
• Important if the reference population is arranged in
some order:
– Order of registration of patients
– Numerical number of house numbers
– Student’s registration books
• Taking individuals at fixed intervals (every kth) based on
the sampling fraction,
– eg. if the sample includes 20%, then every fifth
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Systematic random sampling…
Steps in systematic random sampling
1.Number the units on your frame from 1 to N (where N is
the total population size).
2.Determine the sampling interval (K) by dividing the
number of units in the population by the desired sample
size
3.Select a number between one and K at random.
4.Select every Kth unit after that first number
Note: Systematic sampling should not be used when
a cyclic repetition is inherent in the sampling frame 18
Systematic random sampling…
Example
•To select a sample of 100 from a population of 400, you
would need a sampling interval of 400 ÷ 100 = 4
– Therefore, K = 4
•You will need to select one unit out of every four units to
end up with a total of 100 units in your sample.
•Select a number between 1 and 4 from a table of random
numbers 19
Systematic random sampling…
• If you choose 3, the third unit on your frame would be
the first unit included in your sample;
• The sample might consist of the following units to make
up a sample of 100:, 3 (the random start), 7, 11, 15,
19...395, 399 (up to N, which is 400 in this case)
• Each member of the population belongs to only one of
the four samples and
– each sample has the same chance of being selected
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3. Stratified random sampling
• It is done when the population is known to be have
– heterogeneity with regard to some factors and those
factors are used for stratification
• Using stratified sampling, the population is divided into
homogeneous, mutually exclusive groups called strata,
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Stratified random sampling ….
• A population can be stratified by any variable that is
available for all units prior to sampling
– (e.g., age, sex, province of residence, income, etc.)
• A separate sample is taken independently from each
stratum.
• Any of the sampling methods mentioned in this section
(and others that exist)
• can be used to sample within each stratum
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4. Cluster sampling
• Sometimes it is too expensive to carry out SRS
– Population may be large and scattered.
– Complete list of the study population unavailable
– Travel costs can become expensive
• Cluster sampling is the most widely used to reduce the
cost
• The clusters should be homogeneous, unlike stratified
sampling where the strata are heterogeneous
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5. Multi-stage sampling
• Similar to the cluster sampling, except that it involves
picking a sample from within each chosen cluster, rather
than including all units in the cluster
• This type of sampling requires at least two stages
– The primary sampling unit (PSU) is the sampling unit in the first
sampling stage
– The secondary sampling unit (SSU) is the sampling unit in the
second sampling stage, etc
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Multi-stage sampling….
Woreda PSU
Kebele SSU
Sub-Kebele TSU
HH
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B. Non-probability sampling
• In non-probability sampling, every item has an unknown
chance of being selected
• In non-probability sampling, there is an assumption that
– an even distribution of a characteristic of interest within the
population
• This is what makes the researcher believe that any
sample would be representative and because of that,
results will be accurate
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B. Non-probability sampling …
The most common types of non-probability sampling
1.Convenience or haphazard sampling
2.Volunteer sampling
3.Quota sampling
4.Snowball sampling technique
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1. Convenience sampling
• Convenience sampling is sometimes referred to as
haphazard or accidental sampling
• It is not normally representative of the target
population
– because sample units are only selected if they can be
accessed easily and conveniently
• The obvious advantage is that the method is easy to
use,
– but that advantage is greatly offset by the presence of bias
• Although its applications are limited, it can deliver
accurate results when the population is homogeneous.
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2. Volunteer sampling
• As the term implies, this type of sampling occurs when
people volunteer to be involved in the study.
• in clinical trials (drug testing), for example, it would be
difficult and unethical to
– enlist random participants from the general public
• In these instances, the sample is taken from a group of
volunteers
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3. Quota sampling
• In this case sampling is done until a specific number of
units (quotas) for various sub-populations have been
selected
• Since there are no rules as to how these quotas are to be
filled,
– quota sampling is really a means for satisfying sample size
objectives for certain sub-populations
• Quota sampling is generally less expensive than random
sampling
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3. Quota sampling…
• Quota sampling is an effective sampling method when
– information is urgently required and can be conducted without
sampling frames
• In many cases where the population has no suitable
frame,
– quota sampling may be the only appropriate sampling method.
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4. Snowball sampling
• A technique for selecting a research sample where
existing study subjects
– recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances
• Thus the sample group appears to grow like a rolling
snowball
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4. Snowball sampling…
• This sampling technique is often used in hidden
populations which are difficult for researchers to access;
– example populations would be drug users or commercial sex
workers
• Because sample members are not selected from a
sampling frame, this method is subject to numerous
biases
• For example, people who have many friends are more likely to
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be recruited into the sample.
Thank you
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