KULLIYYAH OF NURSING

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA

SUBJECT

NUR 3282 - Basic Biostatistics

ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC:

Sampling Method

LECTURER: Dr. Laith Issa Yassin Al-Araji

Student Name: Mohd Izwan Zainudin

Student Mattric No.: 0812995 Date of Submission: 30 December

2010
 Sampling is an event where the researcher will select their group of
people, events, behaviours, or other elements to be their subject of
research. Sampling is very important step in research because it will
determine the accuracy of the research. Sampling method can be divided
into two main method; probability (random) sampling methods and non-
probability sampling method.

The diagram above is a diagram that shows a simplified version of

sampling method. First, let us explore the first part which is probability
sampling method. This method is selected to ensure some degree of
precision in estimation of population parameters. Thus,

it will decrease the sampling error. Sampling error is the difference

between a sample statistic and a population parameter. A large sample
error means that the sample doesn’t give a correct reflection of the
general thought of the society. The term probability means that all the
elements in sample have a change more than one. This type is sampling
is more likely to be chosen as the sampling method in qualitative
research. This is because all of the elements in the sample have a chance
to represent the sample even if the elements don’t share the same
opinion in the topic researched.
 This method of sampling will have a lower change of the bias,
though it is not impossible to occur. The researcher should not eliminate
the elements that he or she unlike that particular element. The
researcher should first select the sample frame. After that the sample will
be selected randomly from the sample plan. To choose the sample
randomly, the theorist have come out with 4 ways; sample random,
stratified random, cluster and systematic.

First let us look at the sample random sampling method which is the
most basic method of sampling. This method selects the sample from the
sample frame randomly. The method used can goes according to the
imagination of the researchers. For example you can write all your
sample names and then put it in a bowl. After that you can select the
elements randomly. After you take one of the elements, you should put it
back so that all the elements have the same opportunity to be selected.
We also can write the number randomly and that select it with your eyes
closed using your finger or pencil. However, some theorist do not
consider this type choosing as one of the method that can be used as one
of the method of sample random sampling. This also can be done by
phone call. However, it can be quite costly. So, basically, the researcher
can used any method that they like as long as the sample is selected
randomly.

The next type of sampling is stratified random sampling. This

method is used if the researcher has some traits or variables like certain
age, gender, or ethnicity. For example, if the researcher is conducting a
research to reflect that certain number of element of the variable this
method can be used. If the researcher want to have 25 malay, 25 indians,
and 25 chinese. They can limit their sample according to the variable that
they need and eliminated randomly the group of ethnicity that is more
than 25. However, the theorists are still debating about this type of
sampling because it may cause disproportional or proportional sample.
For example, the percentages of each ethnic in Malaysia are different. Let
say the 50 percent of Malaysian are malay, 30 percent Chinese, and 20
percent Indian. So, this might not be fair for the malay to be represented
by only 25 people because they represent 50 percent of the population.
So, the result of the research might be bias toward the Indians because
they have bigger voice for the small population. If the researchers choose
to have different number of element, it will cause disproportional sample.

The next type of probability is sampling is cluster sampling. Cluster

sampling is used because of two reasons. The first reason is the simple
random sampling method can’t be used due to the cost and time because
the researchers have a large sampling frame. The other reason is when
the researchers don’t know the sample frame of the research. For
example, if the researchers don’t have the data for the subject of the
research. For example, if the researchers don’t have the data for diabetic
insipidus, the researchers can choose one state, and narrowed it down to
cities, and then select one hospital and then select the nursing unit that
relevant to field of research. The research can used the whole nursing
unit as a sample or select the certain patient that meet their requirement.
This type of sampling method is used to obtain a larger sample with a
lower cost. However, the data that received is not totally independent
and correlate with the institution. This correlation might decrease
precision and increase sampling error.

Systemic sampling can be used when an ordered list of all members

of the population is available. The most common way to apply this
method is using equal probability method. The will find the value of k
value which resemble the number of element. The formula used is as
below:

Where n is the sample size, and N is the population size.

K represents the sample that will be selected. For example the population size is
1000 and the sample size is 500, which are means k value will be 2. So, the
researcher will take element number 2 as sample that will be used.
 Next let us look at the non-probability sampling methods in qualitative
research. In non-probability method, not all of the elements have the same
chances to be selected to be the sample. Thus, this type of sampling increases
the chances of having the sample that does not reflect the whole population.
There are 5 types of non-probability sampling; convenience, quota, purposive,
network and theoretical method. All of these methods can be used in qualitative
and quantitative research. However, the first two methods are more frequent
used in quantitative research, while the other three are frequently used in
qualitative research.

The first one is convenience or accidental sampling. For this type of

sampling, the subject of the research is accidentally at the type where the
research takes place. This type of sampling tends to be bias. However, it can be
eliminated if we detected the bias before we do the research. This type of
sampling method is inexpensive and accessible. This type of sampling can be
used in research that is never been done before or the area that never been
explore before. Convenience sampling also can be used in descriptive and
correlative studies. However, the theorists prefer to use probability type of
sampling because it can represent the whole society.

The next type of sampling is quota sampling. Quota sampling is used

when we have an additional feature to be represented in the research. In an
easy word, it’s compliment the convenience sampling. This is to ensure the
inclusion of subjects’ types that are likely to be under-represented in the
convenience sample like women, minority group, the elderly and the poor. This
type of sampling may also be used to mimic the known characteristic of the
target population or to ensure adequate number of subject in each category for
the planned statistical analysis.

Next are the types of non-probability sampling that used in qualitative

research. Qualitative research takes place to discover meaning about a
particular experience, situation, cultural element, or historical events. The first
one is purposive sampling. This type of research is also called judgemental or
selective sampling. This type of sampling involves the conscious thought of the
researcher in selecting their sample. The variables can be manipulated as long
as the research focus is maintained. This sampling plan is criticised due to the
result that not precise. However, the elements in the qualitative research are
hard to be evaluated. For instant, experience is something that we can’t
measure. So, this approach of sampling can be used. So, this type is sampling
seems to be the best way to obtain in-depth understanding of complex
experience or event or to gain insight into a new area of study.

The next type of sampling is network sampling. It also called snowballing

sampling. This type of sampling holds promise for locating samples that is
difficult or impossible to obtain. This type of sampling takes advantages from
the friends that have something in common. When the researcher found the
things that they have in common, he or she will send their assistance to do the
related survey. Usually, the first few subjects are acquired from convenience
sampling method. After that, the sample that the researcher already had will
recommend their friends that have similar experience. For example drug abuser,
sexual abuser, child abuser, or alcoholics. This type of people usually had
connection with each other. However, this type of sampling has a higher risk to
be bias because the entire elements are related with each other.

Theoretical sampling is a method of sampling to have a deeper

understanding of certain theory in the research. The researcher can apply this
method at anytime throughout the research. The researchers will search for the
element that they need. The data are considered relevant if the data can
develop the theory. The information will saturate the code or idea until the
theory completed (saturated). The samples collected are encouraged to be
variety so that the theory can covers bigger population of society.