POPULATION AND SAMPLING

Sampling- may be defined as measuring a small portion of something and then making a general statement about the whole thing. Why We Need Sampling: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sampling Sampling Sampling Sampling Sampling makes possible the study of a large heterogeneous population is for economy is for speed is for accuracy saves the sources of data from being all consumed

Sampling Concepts and Terminologies Element- the unit about which information is collected and which provides the basis of analysis. Population- the complete collection of elements to be studied. Study population- the collection of elements from which the sample is actually selected. Sample- the elements who are actually selected a participate or to be the subject in the study. Sampling unit- the element or set of elements considered for selection in some stage of sampling. In a more complex sampling, different levels of sampling units may be employed. For example, you may select a sample of census blocks in a city, then select a sample of adults, of which the last of these are the elements. The first sampling units are called primary sampling unit, the census blocks; the second unit is called the secondary sampling unit, the household; the third unit is called the final sampling unit, the adults. Sampling frame- is the actual list of sampling units from which the sample, or some stage of the people, is selected. Observation unit- (or unit of data collection) is an element or aggregation of elements from which information is collected. Variable- a set of exclusive attributes Parameter- the summary description of a given variable in a population Statistics- the summary description of a given variable in a sample Sampling error- the degree of error of a sample statistics when compared with the population parameter Representative sampling- a sample will be representative of the population from which it is selected if the aggregate characteristics of the sample closely approximate those same aggregate characteristics in the population Confidence level-the degree of confidence that a sample statistic will accurately fall within a certain or specified interval from the population parameter Confidence interval- the range within which the sample statistics should fall

Sampling stratum- the group, section, or category of elements from which selection is made in some stage of sampling. Disadvantages of Sampling 1. If sampling is biased, or not representative, or too small, the conclusion may not be valid and reliable. 2. In research, the respondents to a study must have a common characteristic which is the basis of the study. If some of the sample does not have this common characteristic, the conclusion becomes faulty. 3. If the population is very large and there are many sections and subsections, the sampling procedure becomes very complicated. 4. If the researcher does not possess the necessary skill and technical knowhow in sampling procedure, the sampling may become biased and unrepresentative. General Types of Sampling 1. Non- probability sampling- the sample is not a proportion of the population and there is no system in selecting the sample. The selection depends upon the situation. i. Accidental sampling- in this type of sampling, there is no system of selection but only those whom the researcher or interviewer meets by chance are included in the sample. It is resorted to only when there is no other alternative. ii. Quota sampling- a specified number (quota) of persons of certain types are included in the sample. o Quota sampling may be used only when any of the more desirable types of sampling will not do. iii. Convenience sampling- a process of picking out of people in the most convenient and fastest way to immediately get their reactions to a certain hot and controversial issue. 2. Probability sampling- the sample is a proportion (a certain percent) of the population and such sample is selected from the population by means of some systematic way in which every element of the population has a chance of being included in the sample. i. Pure random sampling- this type of sampling is one in which everyone in the population of the inquiry has an equal chance of being selected to be included in the sample. This is also called lottery or raffle type of sampling. ii. Systematic sampling- a technique of a sampling in which every nth name in a list may be selected to be included in a sample. iii. Stratified random sampling- the process of selecting randomly, samples from different strata of the population used in the study. This is used when the population of the inquiry has class stratification or groupings either horizontally or vertically. iv. Purposive sampling- determining the target population, those to be involved in the study. The respondents are chosen on the basis of their knowledge of the information desired. v. Cluster sampling (Multistage cluster sampling)- is used when the population is so big or the geographical area of the research is so large. The general procedure is to divide the area or population into clusters or blocks and then within the final cluster apply any of the different methods of selecting a sample.

Guidelines for Determining Adequate Sampling 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. When the population is more or less homogeneous and only the typical, normal, or average is desired to be known, a smaller sample is enough. However, if differences are desired to be known, a larger sample is needed. When the population is more or less heterogeneous and only typical, normal, or average is desired to be known, a larger sample is needed. However, if only their differences are desired to be known, a smaller sample is sufficient. The size of a sample varies inversely as the size of the population. A larger proportion is required of a smaller population and a smaller proportion may do for a bigger population. For a greater accuracy and reliability of results, a greater sample is desirable. In biological and chemical experiments such as testing the effects of drugs and other substances, the use of a few persons is more desirable to determine the reactions of humans to such and other substances. When the subjects are likely to be destroyed during the experiment, it is more feasible to use non-humans such as animals.