Sample and Sampling Techniques

a) Population - composed of persons or objects that possess some common characteristics that are of
interest to the researcher.
b) Sample - a subset of the entire population.
c) Sampling - the process of selecting the sample size.

Ways to determine the sample size:

A. Use of formulas
1. Slovin’s Formula - used when the
researcher has limited information about
the characteristics of the population, and is
using a non-probability sampling procedure.
2. Calmorin’s Formula - used when the
population is more than 100, and the
researcher decides to utilize scientific
sampling.

n= Ss = NV + [(Se)2x(1-p)]
N NSe +[V2 x p(1-p)]
1+Ne2 Where:
Ss - sample size
Where: N - population size
n - sample size V - standard value (2.58) of 1% level of
N - population size probability with 0.99 reliability
e - desired margin of error Se - sampling error
p - largest possible proportion
 Computed Sample Sizes Using the
Calmorin’s Formula
N n N n
150 12 650 205
2
200 14 700 208
1
250 15 750 211
5
300 16 800 214
6
350 17 850 216
5
400 18 900 218
2
450 18 950 220
8
500 19 1000 221
4
550 19 2000 238
8
600 20 3000 244
2

Other considerations in selecting the sample size:

  When the total population is equal to or less than 100, this same number may serve as the
sample size. This is called UNIVERSAL SAMPLING.
 The following are the acceptable sizes for different types of research:
a) Descriptive research - 10% - 20% of the total population
b) Correlational research - 30 subjects or respondents
c) Comparative research - 15 subjects/group
d) Experimental design - 15 -30 subjects/group

Kinds of Sampling
Probability Sampling - all members of the population are given equal chance of being selected. Also
called scientific sampling.
 Simple Random Sampling - samples are drawn by chance
 Stratified Random Sampling - the population is first divided into different strata then the random
sampling follows.
 Cluster Sampling - used in large-scale studies
 Systematic Sampling - selecting the nth element of the population.

Non-probability Sampling - all members are not given equal chance of being selected.
 Convenience Sampling - the researchers choose the respondents who are present during the conduct
of the study.
 Quota Sampling - the respondents are chosen according to the desired number of the researchers.
 Purposive Sampling - the researchers handpick the respondents.