Seema Singh Follow
Data Science Aspirant | Learner
Jul 26 · 6 min read
Sampling Techniques
Sampling helps a lot in research. It is one of the most important factors
which determines the accuracy of your research/survey result. If
anything goes wrong with your sample then it will be directly re ected
in the nal result. There are lot of techniques which help us to gather
sample depending upon the need and situation. This blog post tries to
explain some of those techniques.
To start with, let’s have a look on some basic terminology
Population
Sample
Sampling
Population is the collection of the elements which has some or the
other characteristic in common. Number of elements in the population
is the size of the population.
Sample is the subset of the population. The process of selecting a
sample is known as sampling. Number of elements in the sample is the
sample size.
Sampling
There are lot of sampling techniques which are grouped into two
categories as
• Probability Sampling
• Non- Probability Sampling
The di erence lies between the above two is weather the sample
selection is based on randomization or not. With randomization, every
element gets equal chance to be picked up and to be part of sample for
study.
Probability Sampling
This Sampling technique uses randomization to make sure that every
element of the population gets an equal chance to be part of the
selected sample. It’s alternatively known as random sampling.
Simple Random Sampling
Strati ed sampling
Systematic sampling
Cluster Sampling
Multi stage Sampling
Simple Random Sampling: Every element has an equal chance of
getting selected to be the part sample. It is used when we don’t have
any kind of prior information about the target population.
For example: Random selection of 20 students from class of 50
student. Each student has equal chance of getting selected. Here
probability of selection is 1/50
Single Random Sampling
Strati ed Sampling
This technique divides the elements of the population into small
subgroups (strata) based on the similarity in such a way that the
elements within the group are homogeneous and heterogeneous
among the other subgroups formed. And then the elements are
randomly selected from each of these strata. We need to have prior
information about the population to create subgroups.
Strati ed Sampling
Cluster Sampling
Our entire population is divided into clusters or sections and then the
clusters are randomly selected. All the elements of the cluster are used
for sampling. Clusters are identi ed using details such as age, sex,
location etc.
Cluster sampling can be done in following ways:
· Single Stage Cluster Sampling
Entire cluster is selected randomly for sampling.
Single Stage Cluster Sampling
· Two Stage Cluster Sampling
Here rst we randomly select clusters and then from those selected
clusters we randomly select elements for sampling
Two Stage Cluster Sampling
Systematic Clustering
Here the selection of elements is systematic and not random except the
rst element. Elements of a sample are chosen at regular intervals of
population. All the elements are put together in a sequence rst where
each element has the equal chance of being selected.
For a sample of size n, we divide our population of size N into
subgroups of k elements.
We select our rst element randomly from the rst subgroup of k
elements.
To select other elements of sample, perform following:
We know number of elements in each group is k i.e N/n
So if our rst element is n1 then
Second element is n1+k i.e n2
Third element n2+k i.e n3 and so on..
Taking an example of N=20, n=5
No of elements in each of the subgroups is N/n i.e 20/5 =4= k
Now, randomly select rst element from the rst subgroup.
If we select n1= 3
n2 = n1+k = 3+4 = 7
n3 = n2+k = 7+4 = 11
Systematic Clustering
Multi-Stage Sampling
It is the combination of one or more methods described above.
Population is divided into multiple clusters and then these clusters are
further divided and grouped into various sub groups (strata) based on
similarity. One or more clusters can be randomly selected from each
stratum. This process continues until the cluster can’t be divided
anymore. For example country can be divided into states, cities, urban
and rural and all the areas with similar characteristics can be merged
together to form a strata.
Multi-Stage Sampling
Non-Probability Sampling
It does not rely on randomization. This technique is more reliant on the
researcher’s ability to select elements for a sample. Outcome of
sampling might be biased and makes di cult for all the elements of
population to be part of the sample equally. This type of sampling is
also known as non-random sampling.
Convenience Sampling
Purposive Sampling
Quota Sampling
Referral /Snowball Sampling
Convenience Sampling
Here the samples are selected based on the availability. This method is
used when the availability of sample is rare and also costly. So based on
the convenience samples are selected.
For example: Researchers prefer this during the initial stages of survey
research, as it’s quick and easy to deliver results.
Purposive Sampling
This is based on the intention or the purpose of study. Only those
elements will be selected from the population which suits the best for
the purpose of our study.
For Example: If we want to understand the thought process of the
people who are interested in pursuing master’s degree then the
selection criteria would be “Are you interested for Masters in..?”
All the people who respond with a “No” will be excluded from our
sample.
Quota Sampling
This type of sampling depends of some pre-set standard. It selects the
representative sample from the population. Proportion of
characteristics/ trait in sample should be same as population. Elements
are selected until exact proportions of certain types of data is obtained
or su cient data in di erent categories is collected.
For example: If our population has 45% females and 55% males then
our sample should re ect the same percentage of males and females.
Referral /Snowball Sampling
This technique is used in the situations where the population is
completely unknown and rare.
Therefore we will take the help from the rst element which we select
for the population and ask him to recommend other elements who will
t the description of the sample needed.
So this referral technique goes on, increasing the size of population like
a snowball.
Referral /Snowball Sampling
For example: It’s used in situations of highly sensitive topics like HIV
Aids where people will not openly discuss and participate in surveys to
share information about HIV Aids.
Not all the victims will respond to the questions asked so researchers
can contact people they know or volunteers to get in touch with the
victims and collect information
Helps in situations where we do not have the access to su cient people
with the characteristics we are seeking. It starts with nding people to
study.
. . .
Hope now you all have a good idea about sampling and it’s techniques.
Thanks for reading!
