( lecture 6): Sampling

Sampling: selecting a group of people, events, objects or other elements to conduct a study ( to be in the study).

Sample: the selected group of people or element Members of the sample can be called the
subjects or participant .(people in the study)

Population: is a particular group of individuals or elements.

• In the study, we don’t take all of the population ( all of the people)

• We take representative sample

Target population: is the entire set of individuals who meet the sampling criteria.

The Components of Population:

1.Accessible Population: The portion of the target population to which the researcher has reasonable access.

T It may be limited to region, city, or hospital.

2.Generalization: extends the findings from the sample under study to the larger population.
E
Generalization need the study to have high quality.

3.Eligibility Criteria: list of characteristics or attributes essential for

eligibility or membership in the target population.

Inclusion Sampling criteria

Exclusion Sampling criteria

characteristics the subject or

element must possess to be part characteristics cause a person
of the target population. who meets the inclusion criteria
to be excluded or removed from
the target population.
Representativeness of a Sample in Quantitative Research

Representativeness: means that the sample, accessible population and ,target population
are alike in as many ways as possible.

A sample must be representative in terms of characteristics such as

age, gender, ethnicity, income, and education which often influence
study variables.

Acceptance Rate: the percentage of subjects who accept to participate in the study. All calculation equations are
Important ( Final exam)

Equation
Number accepting participation
Acceptance Rate = x 100
Number meeting sampling criteria
approached

Refusal Rate: the percentage of subjects who declined to participate in the study.
Important ( Final exam)

Number refusing participation

Equation
Refusal Rate = x 100
Question:
Number meeting sampling criteria
If the Attrition Rate increasd more than 25% this
approached
will affect what ?
Answer:
Internal validity of the study
Attrition Rate: the withdrawal or loss of subjects from a study expressed in percentage.
G
Number of subjects withdrawing from the study Equation
Attrition Rate = x 100 It refers to subjects who drop out of a
Number of the study sample size study after having begun the process.

Retention Rate: number of participants remain and completed the study.

Number of subjects completing the study Equation

x 100
Retention Rate = If the number of completing study isn’t
Number sample size of a study exist, First we calculate the withdrawal
participant, then we subtract from 100
 SAMPLING METHODS OR PLANS

• Outlines the strategies used to obtain samples for study

• Each person or element from the population should

have an opportunity to be selected for the sample.

1.

Probability Sampling Methods: Each person or element of the accessible population meeting
inclusion criteria has an equal opportunity to be selected for the sample which is achieved
through random sampling.

probability/random sample is more representative than a non probability sample, because the potential
for bias is small.

1.Simple Random Method: the most basic sampling method, randomly selects elements from the
sampling frame.

There are various ways for Simple Random:

• Computers

• Slips of paper, with each element’s name written on one of them.

and a hat (draw). (Most common)

• One-line random numbers

generator

•table of random numbers. (eyes closed)

2. Stratified Random Sampling: A researcher knows some of the variables in the population that are critical for
achieving representativeness. In stratification, researchers must define categories
(strata) of the variables selected for stratification.

Strata = specific characteristics

 Important: in the final exam

3.Cluster Sampling: researcher develops a sampling frame that includes a list of all the states, cities,
institutions, or organizations with which elements of the identified population can be linked.

Referred to as multistage sampling.

Important: in the final exam

4. Systematic Sampling: The process involves selecting every kth individual on the list, using a starting point
selected randomly.

Important: in the final exam

2.

NonProbability Sampling Methods: every element of a population does not have an equal opportunity to be
selected as a subject.

Bias is expected in nonrandom sampling.

1.Convenience Sampling (accidental sampling): subjects included in the study because they happen
to be in the right place at the right time.
All people ( All population = Convenience

Convenience samples are inexpensive, accessible and usually

less time consuming to obtain than other types of samples.

Won’t coming in the exam!!

2. Quota Sampling: Quota sampling uses a convenience sampling technique with an added
feature (Strata = specific characteristics).
similar to that used in stratified random sampling.
Sample Size: descriptive studies particularly those using survey questionnaires and correlational studies requires very
large sample size.

While Intervention study needs small sample size ( small numbers).

To make sure that the study will have adequate sample size.

We use Power Analysis:

Important: in the final exam

What is the component of power analysis? Important: in the final exam

1.Power: the ability of the study to detect differences or

relationships that actually exist in the population.

minimum acceptable level of power for a study is 0.8 or 80%

Only 20% is by chance ( Type 2 error)

2.Effect Size: the strength of the expected relationship

between variables or difference between 2 groups.

When the effect size is large = use a small sample size

If the effect size is small = a larger sample size

3. Level of Significance/ Alpha (p): usually (alpha = 0.05) in nursing research.

0.05 or less is significant while more only 5% have chance ( to make a mistake we
than 0.05 is not significant & we call it call (Type 1 error)
 Power Analysis:

Power Effect Size Level of significance

Confidence 80% of the results Confidence 95% of the result

Confidence 100% of the Relationship
( not by chance) ( not by chance)
btween variables

Only 20% ( is by chance ) Only 5% ( is by chance )

Type 2 error Type 1 error