ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING

Accidental sampling is the least rigorous of all sampling procedures. With accidental sampling,
whichever subjects happen to be available comprise the sample. May sidewalk interviewed are
examples of accidental sampling. Other examples of accidental sampling include using as the
sample the first 100 people in the telephone book who happen to answer the phone, interviewing
the first 50 people encountered at a shopping mall who are willing to be interviewed, and using
students in ones own classroom.
An accidental sample is quite likely to be biased. However, the degree and nature of the
biases are usually unknown and cannot be assessed. Inferential statistics will not be able to assess
the repetitiveness of the sample with any degree of accuracy. At best, the data obtained from an
accidental sample can only be tentative and should be used only as a guide for possible directions
to be taken in a more rigorous study. At worst, data from an accidental sample may be
misleading. Accidental sampling, therefore, should be avoided if possible. When it has to be
used, interpret the data from an accidental sample with extreme caution.
Suen Hoi K., Donald Ary. 1989. Analyzing Quantitative Behavioral Observation Data. New
York and London: Psychology Press
ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING
Accidental sampling is, as the name implies, a sample you chance upon by accident. The sample
is convenient or available to you for some reason. The most common form of accidental
sampling is standing in a public place such as a supermarket or railway station for workers in the
welfare industry an accidental sample might be drawn from a workers caseload or from clients
coming to the agency. Suppose you are working in a womens refuge and you wish to understand
more about the difficulties woman have seeking court protection orders. You might sample all
new residents over a two-week period. In either case, your sample is not representative of the
entire population of women seeking protection orders but it will give you valuable insights into
the legal and court process and allow you to explore the problems facing woman in this situation.
Sample drawn from available or convenient group
Sample reflects the problem being investigated
Number of subjects determined by access and availability
Sample generated
Margaret Alston and Wendy Bowles. 2003. Research for Social Workers: An Introduction to
methods 2nd edition. New York and London: Routledge

ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING
Accidental sample. In utilizing an accidental sampling technique, the researched simply selects
the cases that are at hand until the sample reaches a desired, designated size. If one wished to
conduct an academic library user study, one might elect to survey library patrons as the entered
or exited the library, on a first-come, first-served basis. There would be little or no preferential
selection of respondents.
Obviously, there would be relatively little if any assurance that the sample was reasonably
representative of the librarys users. One could not assume that the accidental sample was not
atypical. The researcher might query users during some other time period and end up with quite
different responses. Accidental sampling is seldom adequate for any kind of survey.

Ronald r. Powell. 1997. Basic Research for Librarians 3rd Edition. London: Ablex Publishing

ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING
Accidental sampling, as the name connotes, is a sample drawn accidentally, purely for reasons of
convenience and accessibility. They are not generalizable and are useful for pilot testing.
Judgmental (purposive) sampling
In judgmental sampling the researcher uses experts to choose samples that are representative
based upon their expertise and prior knowledge. In other words, the distinguishing feature of this
sampling is that the researcher uses his or her own judgement (or the judgement of experts) as to
whom to select and how many, based on the aims of the research project and prior knowledge of
the population and its elements.
Boxill, Ian, dkk. 1997. Introduction to Social Research with Applications to the Caribbean.
Jamaika: Caneo Press