SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING

Systematic sampling is a random sampling technique which is frequently chosen by researchers for its
simplicity and its periodic quality.

by Joan Joseph Castillo (2009)

In systematic random sampling, the researcher first randomly picks the first item or subject from the
population. Then, the researcher will select each n'th subject from the list.

The procedure involved in systematic random sampling is very easy and can be done manually and the
results are representative of the population unless certain characteristics of the population are repeated
for every n'th individual which is highly unlikely.

The process of obtaining the systematic sample is much like an arithmetic progression.

Starting number:
The researcher selects an integer that must be less than the total number of individuals in the
population. This integer will correspond to the first subject.

Interval:
The researcher picks another integer which will serve as the constant difference between any two
consecutive numbers in the progression.

The integer is typically selected so that the researcher obtains the correct sample size

For example, the researcher has a population total of 100 individuals and need 12 subjects. He first picks
his starting number, 5.

Then the researcher picks his interval, 8. The members of his sample will be individuals 5, 13, 21, 29, 37,
45, 53, 61, 69, 77, 85, 97.

Other researchers use a modified systematic random sampling technique wherein they first identify the
needed sample size. Then, they divide the total number of the population with the sample size to obtain
the sampling fraction. The sampling fraction is then used as the constant difference between subjects.

ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING

The main advantage of using systematic sampling over simple random sampling is its simplicity. It allows
the researcher to add a degree of system or process into the random selection of subjects.

Another advantage of systematic random sampling over simple random sampling is the assurance that
the population will be evenly sampled. There exists a chance in simple random sampling that allows a
clustered selection of subjects. This is systematically eliminated in systematic sampling.

DISADVANTAGE OF SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING

The process of selection can interact with a hidden periodic trait within the population. If the sampling
technique coincides with the periodicity of the trait, the sampling technique will no longer be random
and representativeness of the sample is compromised.

NOTES

Since systematic random sampling is a type of probability sampling, the researcher must ensure that all
the members of the population have equal chances of being selected as the starting point or the initial
subject.

The researcher must be certain that the chosen constant interval between subjects do not reflect a
certain pattern of traits present in the population. If a pattern in the population exists and it coincides
with the interval set by the researcher, randomness of the sampling technique is compromised.

STRATIFIED SAMPLING METHOD

Stratified sampling is a probability sampling technique wherein the researcher divides the entire
population into different subgroups or strata, then randomly selects the final subjects proportionally
from the different strata.

by Joan Joseph Castillo (2009)

It is important to note that the strata must be non-overlapping. Having overlapping subgroups will grant
some individuals higher chances of being selected as subject. This completely negates the concept of
stratified sampling as a type of probability sampling.

Equally important is the fact that the researcher must use simple probability sampling within the
different strata.

The most common strata used in stratified random sampling are age, gender, socioeconomic status,
religion, nationality and educational attainment.

USES OF STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING

Stratified random sampling is used when the researcher wants to highlight a specific subgroup within
the population. This technique is useful in such researches because it ensures the presence of the key
subgroup within the sample.

Researchers also employ stratified random sampling when they want to observe existing relationships
between two or more subgroups. With a simple random sampling technique, the researcher is not sure
whether the subgroups that he wants to observe are represented equally or proportionately within the
sample.
With stratified sampling, the researcher can representatively sample even the smallest and most
inaccessible subgroups in the population. This allows the researcher to sample the rare extremes of the
given population.

With stratified sampling technique, you have a higher statistical precision compared to simple random
sampling. This is because the variability within the subgroups is lower compared to the variations when
dealing with the entire population.

Because this technique has high statistical precision, it also means that it requires a small sample size
which can save a lot of time, money and effort of the researchers.

TYPES OF STRATIFIED SAMPLING

PROPORTIONATE STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING

The sample size of each stratum in this technique is proportionate to the population size of the stratum
when viewed against the entire population. This means that the each stratum has the same sampling
fraction.

For example, you have 3 strata with 100, 200 and 300 population sizes respectively. And the researcher
chose a sampling fraction of ½. Then, the researcher must randomly sample 50, 100 and 150 subjects
from each stratum respectively.

Stratum A B C

Population Size 100 200 300

Sampling Fraction ½ ½ ½

Final Sample Size 50 100 150

The important thing to remember in this technique is to use the same sampling fraction for each
stratum regardless of the differences in population size of the strata. It is much like assembling a smaller
population that is specific to the relative proportions of the subgroups within the population.

DISPROPORTIONATE STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING

The only difference between proportionate and disproportionate stratified random sampling is their
sampling fractions. With disproportionate sampling, the different strata have different sampling
fractions.

The precision of this design is highly dependent on the sampling fraction allocation of the researcher. If
the researcher commits mistakes in allotting sampling fractions, a stratum may either be
overrepresented or underrepresented which will result in skewed results.

SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

Simple random sampling is one of the most popular types of random or probability sampling.

by Joan Joseph Castillo (2009)

In this technique, each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as subject. The
entire process of sampling is done in a single step with each subject selected independently of the other
members of the population.

There are many methods to proceed with simple random sampling. The most primitive and mechanical
would be the lottery method. Each member of the population is assigned a unique number. Each
number is placed in a bowl or a hat and mixed thoroughly. The blind-folded researcher then picks
numbered tags from the hat. All the individuals bearing the numbers picked by the researcher are the
subjects for the study. Another way would be to let a computer do a random selection from your
population. For populations with a small number of members, it is advisable to use the first method but
if the population has many members, a computer-aided random selection is preferred.

ADVANTAGES OF SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

One of the best things about simple random sampling is the ease of assembling the sample. It is also
considered as a fair way of selecting a sample from a given population since every member is given
equal opportunities of being selected.

Another key feature of simple random sampling is its representativeness of the population.
Theoretically, the only thing that can compromise its representativeness is luck. If the sample is not
representative of the population, the random variation is called sampling error.

An unbiased random selection and a representative sample is important in drawing conclusions from the
results of a study. Remember that one of the goals of research is to be able to make conclusions
pertaining to the population from the results obtained from a sample. Due to the representativeness of
a sample obtained by simple random sampling, it is reasonable to make generalizations from the results
of the sample back to the population.

DISADVANTAGES OF SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

One of the most obvious limitations of simple random sampling method is its need of a complete list of
all the members of the population. Please keep in mind that the list of the population must be complete
and up-to-date. This list is usually not available for large populations. In cases as such, it is wiser to use
other sampling techniques.