SAMPLING

Blalock and Blalock It is a small piece of the population obtained by a probability process that mirrors, with known precision, the various patterns and subclasses of the population

Paul L. Endos and Anthus J. Morgan Statistical sampling is the process of selecting a segment of the universe to obtain informations of ascertainable reliability about the population.

REASONS FOR USING SAMPLES

Economy in expenditure Greater Speed Greater Accuracy Practicability Only feasible method

Characteristic of a good sample

Truly representative of the universe Minimum sampling errors Financially viable Bias to be controlled Returns of sample to be applied with reasonable level of confidence

Steps in Sampling Process

Defining the population or universe Development of sample frame Selection of sample design Selecting sample size Actual selection of sample and substitution of sample

Types of sampling design

Probability sampling every item of the universe has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample Simple Random Sampling Lottery Method Tippets Numbers Grid Method Systematic Sampling Stratified Sampling Cluster Sampling Multi-stage Sampling

Non probability sampling each unit of the population does not have an equal chance of being selected. Judgement or Purposive Sampling Convenient or Accidental Sampling Quota Sampling Snowball Sampling

Factors affecting the sample size.

Nature of population (homogeneous and heterogeneous) TABULATION PROCESS Fund, Time, Number of field workers, dispersion or concentration of geographical are Refusal rate Method of data collection Type of Sampling

Advantages of Sampling

Quickness Speed Economy Get more information Accurate data Practical method of collection of data in case when Universe is extremely large

Limitations of Sampling

Accuracy and reliability affected by sampling and non sampling errors. Needs knowledge about lack element May need knowledge of different sampling methods Scattered distribution of sample units. Population growth rate, popualtion density census method is suitable.

Sampling Errors

The discrepancy in the inferences about the population on the basis of few observations (sampling) and the population is called sampling error. Difference between the results derived from a sample study and true value in the population.

Sampling error may be biased or unbiased

Biased

error arise from any bias in selection and collection of information and faulty method of analysis.

 Unbiased

errors arise due to chance differences between the members of the population

 Methods

of reducing sampling error avoidance of bias and increasing the size of the sample.

Non sampling errors arise from one or more of the following factors

Inappropriate methods of data collection Untrained and inexperienced investigators Inadequate inspection and supervision Incomplete coverage Errors due to non-response Errors in coding, punching and verification Errors committed during presentation and tabulation.