and

SAMPLING

Instrumentation
Austria, Babylyn C.

What is SAMPLING?
According to Non Lin, sampling design
is a subset of cases from the population
chosen to represent it. By using the subset,
we can infer the characteristics of the
population.

What is SAMPLING?
The process of selecting a number of individuals
for a study in such a way that the individuals
represent the larger group from which they were
selected.

A way to learn about a larger population by

obtaining information from a subset of a larger
population.

Population & Sample

Population

Sample

Population & Sample

A sample in a research study is a relatively
small number of individuals about whom
information is obtained. The larger group to
whom the information is then generalized is the
population.

Why SAMPLE?
Reduces Time and Cost
Greater Accuracy of
Results
Greater Speed of Data
Collection

Availability of Population
Elements
Saves Labor

Why SAMPLE?
Firstly subject of our enquiry is usually
people who are extremely problematic
unlike inanimate subjects.
Secondly the population we seek to
study are frequently huge and larger the
population being studied, the greater the
risk that a sample drawn from that
population may be unrepresentative.

Limitations of a Sample
or

of

Results obtained may be incorrect

misleading
A large sample has all drawbacks
Census Survey
Complicated sampling may
require more labour
Representativeness may not be
possible in certain cases

Characteristics of Good Sample

Representativeness
Accurate (Unbiased)
Precision
Adequate in Size

Accuracy
Degree to which bias is absent from the
sample.
Some sample elements underestimate
the population values being studied and
other overestimate them.

Precision
No sample will fully represent its population in all
respects.
Differences in the sample and population values occurs
due to random fluctuations inherent in the sampling
process.
Precision is measured by the standard error of estimate,
a type of standard deviation measurement; the smaller
the standard error of estimate, the higher is the precision
of the sample. The ideal sample design produces a small
standard error of estimate. However, not all types of
sample design provide estimates of precision, and
samples of the same size can produce different amounts
of error.

Stages in the Selection of a Sample

Define the target population

Select a sampling frame

Determine if a probability or non probability

sampling method will be chosen

Plan procedure
for selecting sampling units
Determine sample size

Select actual sampling units

Conduct fieldwork

Selecting the Sample

A process by which the researcher
attempts to ensure that the sample is
representative of the population from
which it is to be selected
requires identifying the sampling
method that will be used

Aims in Selecting a Sample

1. To achieve maximum precision in your
estimates within a given sample size

2.To avoid bias in the selection of your

sample

Target vs. Accessible Population

The target population is the population
a researcher would like to generalize to.
Often this isnt possible, so the accessible
population is used.

Specify the Population and Sample

Researchers decide what type of sampling

they seek for their studies
Depending on three factors :
Amount of rigor
The characteristics of the target population
The availability of participants.

Sampling Frame
The sampling frame is closely related to
the population.
It is the list of elements from which the
sample is actually drawn.
Ideally, it is a complete and correct list of
population members only.

Sample Size
Sample size matters in order to have sufficient
power to detect a meaningful result at a certain
level of statistical significance.
Generalisability is possible depending upon the
size of the sample, how representative it is of the
wider population. The larger the sample, the more
confidence we might have in generalising the
findings
As a rule, the larger the sample, the more
accurate will be the findings

Rules for Determining the Sample Size

1. The larger the population size, the smaller the

percentage of the population required to get a
representative sample
2. For smaller samples (N 100), there is little
point in sampling. Survey the entire population.

Rules for Determining the Sample Size

3. If the population size is around 500 (give or
take 100), 50% should be sampled.

4. If the population size is around 1500, 20%

should be sampled.
5. Beyond a certain point (N = 5000), the
population size is almost irrelevant and a
sample size of 400 may be adequate.

Determining the Sample Size

The size of the sample influences both the
representativeness of the sample and the
statistical analysis of the data
larger samples are more likely to detect a
difference between different groups
smaller samples are more likely not to be
representative

Some principles that influence sample

size include :
The greater the dispersion or variance within
the population, the larger the sample must be
to provide estimation precision.
The greater the desired precision of the
estimate, the large the sample must be.
The narrower the interval range, the larger
the sample must be.

Some principles that influence sample

size include :
The higher the confidence level in the
estimate, greater the sample size must be
If the calculated sample size exceeds 5
percent of the population, sample size
may be reduced without sacrificing
precision.

Instrumentation
The process of preparing to collect
data is called instrumentation. It
involves the selection of the method by
which data will be collected, as well as
the procedures and conditions for
collecting them.

Selecting Instruments
Instruments may be selected in one of
two ways.
Either a researcher locates one that
has been developed by another person,
or he/she designs a new one.

Different Types of Instruments

Subject instruments are completed by the
subject.
Informant instruments are completed by
knowledgeable participants providing
information in addition to that collected by
researchers and given by subjects.

Researcher

Subject

Instruments

Instruments

Interview schedules
Tally sheets
Performance checklists
Anecdotal records
Time-and-motion logs

Questionnaires
Self-checklists
Attitude scales
Personality inventories
Achievement tests
Aptitude tests
Performance tests
Projective devices
Sociometric devices