SELECTING SAMPLES

INTRODUCTION

CENSUS & SAMPLE

Census: Collecting and analysing data from every possible case. Sampling: Method to reduce the amount of data you need to collect by considering only data from a subgroup rather than all possible cases of elements

CENSUS
A census is
feasible when the population is small necessary when the elements are quite different from each other

When the population is small and variable any sample we draw may not be representative

POPULATION
The full set of cases from which a sample is taken is called the population. Population here does not necessarily mean people. The size of a population suggests whether census or sampling is feasible

A GOOD SAMPLE
A good sample has accuracy and precision Accuracy is the degree to which bias is absent from the sample The smaller the standard error of estimate, the greater the precision

PRECISION AND CONFIDENCE

A reliable and valid sample should enable us to generalize. No sample statistic is exactly the same as population parameter. Point estimate X may not accurately reflect the population mean, an interval estimate can be within which u will lie with probabilities attached.

PRECISION AND CONFIDENCE

Precision Precision refers to how close our estimate is to the true population characteristic. Precision is a function of the range of variability in the sampling distribution of the sample mean. Sampling Error: Variability of the sample distribution is called the standard error.

PRECISION
The closer we want our sample results to reflect the population characteristics, the greater will be the precision we would aim at. The greater the precision required, the larger is the sample size needed, especially when the variability in the population itself is large.

CONFIDENCE
Confidence denotes how certain we are that our estimates will really hold true for the population. Confidence reflects the level of certainty with which we can state that our estimates of the population parameters, based on our sample statistics will hold true.

NEED TO SAMPLE
Sampling provides a valid alternative to a census when
it would be impracticable for you to survey the entire population; your budget constraints prevent you from surveying the entire population; your time constraints prevent you from surveying the entire population you have collected all the data but need the results quickly.

SOME FACTS ABOUT SAMPLING

Expenditure on sampling may be higher Sampling saves time A form of sampling: data collected from entire population but only a sample of data is analysed Using sampling makes possible a higher overall accuracy than a census More detailed data from a sample than from census

SAMPLING DESIGNS
Element Selection ________ Representation Basis___________ Probability Nonprobability Simple random Complex random Systematic Cluster Stratified Double Convenience Purposive Judgment Quota Snow-ball

Unrestricted Restricted

STEPS IN SAMPLING DESIGN

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is the relevant population? What are the parameters of interest? What is the sampling frame? What is the type of sample? What size sample is needed?

SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
Representation Probability or representative sampling Non-probability or judgmental sampling

Probability or representative sampling

Probability or representative sampling
The chance, or probability, of each case being selected from the population is known and is usually equal for all cases. Probability sampling is often associated with survey and to a lesser extent experiment research

Non-probability or judgmental sampling

Non-probability or judgmental sampling: the probability of each case being selected from the total population is not known and it is impossible to answer research questions that require you to make statistical inferences about characteristics of population under study.

PROBABILITY SAMPLING
1. Identify a suitable sampling frame based on your research question(s) or objectives. 2. Decide on a suitable sample size. 3. Select the most appropriate sampling technique and select the sample. 4. Check that the sample is representative of the population.

SAMPLING FRAME
The sampling frame for any probability sample is a complete list of all the cases in the population. Decided on the basis of research question(s) or objectives. Completeness of sampling frame is essential. Incomplete sampling frame means the sample is not representative.

SAMPLING FRAME
If no list exists, create your own. The list must be unbiased, current and accurate. Survey organisations. Examine their methodology, currency, accuracy and bias. Discuss their method of determining sample size and sample selection.