What is sampling?

sampling
The process of selecting the right individuals, objects or events for the study is known as sampling. It involves the study of a small number of individuals, objects chosen from a larger group.

What is Sampling?
What you want to talk about

Population

What you actually observe in the data

Sampling Process Sampling Frame Inference

Sample

Using data to say something (make an inference) with confidence, about a whole (population) based on the study of a only a few (sample).

The Language(concept) of Sampling

Sample element: a single unit that is selected from a

population and measured in some waythe basis of analysis (e.g., an person, thing, specific time, etc.).

Universe: the theoretical aggregation of all possible

elementsunspecified to time and space.

Population: the theoretical aggregation of specified

elements as defined for a given survey defined by time and space .

Sample or Target population: the aggregation of the population from which the sample is actually drawn( the specific, complete group relevant to research project). Sample frame: sampling frame compromises all the elements of a population with proper identification that is available to us for selection at any stage of sampling. Sample: It is a subset of the population. It comprises only some element of the population. Census: An examination of each and every element of the population is called census or complete enumeration.

Conceptual Model
Universe Population

Sample Population
Sample Frame

Elements

Sampling Principles
There are two important principles (laws) on which the theory of sampling is based: 1. Law of Statistical Regularity: This law emphasize that sample units must be selected at random. 2. Law of Inertia of Large Numbers: This law states that other things being equal, the large the size of the sample, the more accurate the results are likely to be.

What are the types of sampling

There

are 2 types of sampling:

Non-Probability sampling
Probability sampling

Probability Sampling
A

sample must be representative of the population with respect to the variables of interest. A sample will be representative of the population from which it is selected if each member of the population has an equal chance (probability) of being selected.

Probability samples are more accurate than non-probability samples

They remove conscious and unconscious sampling

Probability samples allow us to estimate the accuracy of the sample Probability samples permit the estimation of population parameters.

Types of probability Samples

SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING
SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING

STRATIFIED SMPLING CLUSTER SAMPLING

MULTISTAGE AREA SAMPLING

SIMPLE Random Sampling (SS)

Under this scheme, a list of all the elements of the

population from where the samples to be drawn is prepared. These are put in a box and shuffled properly.

The SRSER(SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING WITH

REPLACEMENT) procedure involves selecting an element from the box and reading of the identification number randomly till the end of completion of sample unit.

Example: Suppose there are 75 students in a class and it is decided to select 15 out of 75 students. These students can be numbered from 01 to 75 and can be selected randomly.

In case of SRSWOR, the procedure is identical to SRSWR, the only difference is that the chosen slip is not placed back in the box. In this way the probability of selecting first unit will be 1/75 and 2/74 of second unit and so on till we select the required number of elements in our sample.sss

Probability of Selection = sample size

Population Size

In Simple Random Sampling

The gap, or period between successive elements is random, uneven, has no particular pattern.

Systematic Sampling
In systematic sampling, the entire population is arranged I a particular order. The order could be calendar dates, alphabetical order which are usually assumed to be random in order. Once this is done, the steps involved in the systematic sampling design are:

(i) (ii)

(iii)

(iv)
(v)

Number the units in population from 1 to N Decide on the n (sample size) that is required Select an interval size k = N/n Randomly select an integer between 1 to k Finally, take every kth unit.

In Systematic Sampling

Gaps between elements are equal and Constant There is periodicity.

PERIODICITY

A problem that occur in systematic sampling when the original list has a systematic pattern.

The Periodicity Problem

If the periodicity in the sample matches a periodicity in the population, then the sample is no longer random. In fact it may be grossly biased!

Which type of sampling is more appropriate in this situation? SRS

Stratified Sampling (S t S)
METHOD: Divide the population by certain characteristics into homogeneous subgroups (strata) (e.g., UI PhD students, Masters Students, Bachelors students). Elements within each strata are homogeneous, but are heterogeneous across strata.

 A simple random or a systematic sample is taken from each strata relative to the proportion of that stratum to each of the others. Researchers use stratified sampling When a stratum of interest is a small percentage of a population and random processes could miss the stratum by chance. When enough is known about the population that it can be easily broken into subgroups or strata.

POPULATION

n = 1000; SE = 10%
equal intensity

STRATA 1

STRATA 2

n= 500; SE=7.5%

n = 500; SE=7.5%

POPULATION n =1000, SE = 10%

proportional to size

STRATA 1 n =400 SE=7.5%

STRATA 2

n = 600 SE=5.0%

Sample equal intensity vs.? proportional to size ?

What do you want to do? or describe each strata? Describe the population,

Cluster sampling

Some populations are spread out (over a state or country). Elements occur in clumps (towns, districts)Primary sampling units (PSU).

Elements are hard to reach and identify.

Trade accuracy for efficiency.

You cannot assume that any one clump is better or worse than another clump.

POPULATION CLUMP

POPULATION
Primary sampling Unit

POPULATION

= Randomly selected PRIMARY SAMPLING UNITS.

Randomly selected PRIMARY SAMPLING UNITS

Elements; sample ALL in the selected primary sampling unit.

Examples of Clusters and Strata

Recreation Research: Strata: weekday-weekend; gender; type of travel; season; size of operation; etc. What are some others?
Clusters:

counties; entry points (put-in and takeouts); time of day, city blocks, road or trail segments. What are some others?

Multi -stage sampling

Combines

two or more forms of random

Sampling. Most commonly, it begins with random cluster sampling and then applies sample random sampling or stratified random sampling.

drawback
May

not yield an accurate representation of the population

NON PROBABILITY SAMPLING

Can

be more focused

Can help make sure a small sample is representative

Cannot make inferences to a larger population

Types of Non-Random Samples

quota set number from each subset There are two types of quota sampling: Proportional and Non-Proportional. In proportional quota sampling you want to represent the major characteristics of the population by sampling a proportional amount of each.

EXAMPLE AN INTERWIER IN A PARTICULAR CITY MAY BE ASSIGNED 100 INTERVIEWS,20 OF WHICH ARE WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWERNSHIP,18 WITH PROFESSIONALS,10 WITH MANAGERIAL EMPLOYEES,7 WITH SUPERVISIORS AND THE REST WITH HOURLY EMPLOYEES. AGGREGATING THE VARIOUS INTERVIEW QUOTAS YEILDS A SAMPLE REPRESENTING THE DESIRED PROPORTIONS OF THE SUB GROUPS

Snowball ask people who else you should interview

Example: If you are studying the homeless, you are not likely to be able to find good lists of homeless people within a specific geographical area.

JUDGMENT set criteria to achieve a specific mix of participants.

Example: The shoppers at a shopping centre may serve to represent the residents of a city or some of the cities may be selected to represent a country.

 Convenience

whoever is easiest to contact or whatever is easiest to observe People interviewed in a shopping centre for their political opinion for a TV programme.

Example:

Sampling Design

A definite plan for obtaining a sample from a given population is called a sample design. It is a technique of selecting items for the items for the sample.

Factors to Consider in Sample Design

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Research objectives Research objectives Resources Time frame Knowledge of target population Research scope Statistical analysis needs

How large should a Sample Be?

Sample size depends on:

How

much sampling error can be toleratedlevels of precision Size of the populationsample size matters with small populations Variation within the population with respect to the characteristic of interestwhat you are investigating Smallest subgroup within the sample for which estimates are needed Sample needs to be big enough to properly estimate the smallest subgroup
http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm

Determining Sample Size

(expected/involved)

Variance or heterogeneity of population

Previous

studies? Industry expectations? Pilot

study? Sequential sampling Rule of thumb: the value of standard deviation is expected to be 1/6 of the range.

Determining Sample Size

Formulas: Means Proportions Percentiles n = (ZS/E) 2 n = Z2 p*q/ E2 n = pc (100 pc) Z2/ E2

Z at 95% confidence = 1.96 Z at 99% confidence = 2.58

Random sampling error

Sampling Error: an estimate of precision;

estimates how close sample estimates are to a true population value for a characteristic. Occurs as a result of selecting a sample rather than surveying an entire population

Standard Error: (SE) a measure of sampling error.

SE is an inverse function of sample size.
As

sample size increases, SE decreasesthe sample is more precise. So, we want to use the smallest SE we can greatest precision! When in doubtincrease sample size.

SE will be highest for a population that has a 50:50 distribution on some characteristic of interest, while it is non-existent with a distribution of 100:0.

s = standard error n = sample size p = % having a particular characteristic (or 1-q) q = % no having a particular characteristic (or 1-p)

S=

q*p n

S= S=

.9 * .1
100

= .03 or 3% .

.5 *.5 = .05 or 5% 100