Gautam Buddha University

Department of social work

Bachelors of Social Work

Types of Probability &Non –Probability Sampling Methods

Submitted To:- Submitted By:-

Dr. Ronak Ahmed Samiksha Patel

(18/UBSW/010)
 Contents

1. Introduction
2. Types of Probability Sampling
3. Advantages and Disadvantages
4. Types of Non-Probability Sampling
5. Methods of sampling
Introduction

A probability sampling method is any method of sampling that utilizes some form of random
selection. In order to have a random selection method, you must set up some process or
procedure that assures that the different units in your population have equal probabilities of being
chosen. Humans have long practiced various forms of random selection, such as picking a name
out of a hat, or choosing the short straw. These days, we tend to use computers as the mechanism
for generating random numbers as the basis for random selection.Non-probability sampling is
defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher selects samples based on the subjective
judgment of the researcher rather than random selection. It is a less stringent method. This
sampling method depends heavily on the expertise of the researchers. It is carried out by
observation, and researchers use it widely qualitative research.

That’s it. With those terms defined we can begin to define the different probability sampling
methods.

Probability Sampling

Probability sampling is based on the fact that every member of a population has a known and
equal chance of being selected. For example, if you had a population of 100 people, each person
would have odds of 1 out of 100 of being chosen. With non-probability sampling, those odds are
not equal. For example, a person might have a better chance of being chosen if they live close to
the researcher or have access to a computer. Probability sampling gives you the best chance to
create a sample that is truly representative of the population. Using probability sampling for
finding sample sizes means that you can employ statistical techniques like confidence intervals
and margins of error to validate your results.

Types of Probability Sampling

 Simple random sampling: It is a completely random method of selecting subjects. These

can include assigning numbers to all subjects and then using a random number generator
 to choose random numbers. Classic ball and urn experiments are another example of this
process (assuming the balls are sufficiently mixed). The members whose numbers are
chosen are included in the sample.
 Stratified Random Sampling: In case the population is heterogeneous, it can be divided
into different strata. The population within a stratum is homogeneous with respect to the
characteristics under study. Population is divided into mutually exclusive groups, such as
age groups, and random samples are drawn from each group. The population in a
particular stratum may be proportionate to its population.
 Systematic Sampling: It means that you choose every “nth” participant from a complete
list. For example, you could choose every 10th person listed.
 Cluster Random Sampling: It is a way to randomly select participants from a list that is
too large for simple random sampling. For example, if you wanted to choose 1000
participants from the entire population of the U.S., it is likely impossible to get a
complete list of everyone. Instead, the researcher randomly selects areas (i.e. cities or
counties) and randomly selects from within those boundaries.
 Multi-Stage Random sampling: It uses a combination of techniques.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Each probability sampling method has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

 Cluster sampling: convenience and ease of use.

 Simple random sampling: It creates samples that are highly representative of the
population.
 Stratified random sampling: It creates strata or layers that are highly representative of
strata or layers in the population.
 Systematic sampling: It creates samples that are highly representative of the population,
without the need for a random number generator.
Disadvantages

 Cluster sampling: It might not work well if unit members are not homogeneous (i.e. if
they are different from each other).
 Simple random sampling: tedious and time consuming, especially when creating larger
samples.
 Stratified random sampling: It is tedious and time consuming, especially when creating
larger samples.
 Systematic sampling: It is not as random as simple random sampling.

Non-Probability Sampling

Non-probability sampling is a sampling technique where the odds of any member being selected
for a sample cannot be calculated. It’s the opposite of probability sampling, where you can
calculate the odds. In addition, probability sampling involves random selection, while non-
probability sampling does not–it relies on the subjective judgement of the researcher. The odds
do not have to be equal for a method to be considered probability sampling. For example, one
person could have a 10% chance of being selected and another person could have a 50% chance
of being selected. It’s non-probability sampling when you can’t calculate the odds at all.

Advantages and disadvantages

 A major advantage with non-probability sampling is that — compared to probability

sampling — it’s very cost and time-effective. It’s also easy to use and can also be used
when it’s impossible to conduct probability sampling (e.g. when you have a very small
population to work with).

 One major disadvantage of non-probability sampling is that it’s impossible to know how
well you are representing the population. Plus, you can’t calculate confidence intervals
and margins of error. This is the major reason why, if at all possible, you should consider
probability sampling methods first.
Types of Non-Probability Sampling

 Convenience Sampling: As the name suggests, this involves collecting a sample from
somewhere convenient to you: the mall, your local school, your church. Sometimes
called accidental sampling, opportunity sampling or grab sampling.
 Haphazard Sampling: Where a researcher chooses items haphazardly, trying to simulate
randomness. However, the result may not be random at all and is often tainted by
selection bias.
 Purposive Sampling: Where the researcher chooses a sample based on their knowledge
about the population and the study itself. The study participants are chosen based on the
study’s purpose.
 Expert Sampling: In this method, the researcher draws the sample from a list of experts
in the field.
 Heterogeneity Sampling / Diversity Sampling: A type of sampling where you
deliberately choose members so that all views are represented. However, those views
may or may not be represented proportionally.
 Modal Instance Sampling: The most “typical” members are chosen from a set.
 Quota Sampling: Where the groups (i.e. men and women) in the sample are proportional
to the groups in the population.
 Snowball Sampling: Where research participants recruit other members for the study.
This method is particularly useful when participants might be hard to find. For example, a
study on working prostitutes or current heroin users.

Multi-stage sampling

Multi-stage sampling is used in large scale surveys for a more comprehensive

investigation. The researcher may have to use two, three or even four stage sampling. For
example, in surveys mailed questionnaires are generally used to gather information from
people living in widely scattered areas. Although the method is cost effective, partially
 completed questionnaires may introduce a bias due to which a representative sample
cannot be obtained. To overcome this bias, two-stage sampling has to be used. A second
sample from non-respondents is selected at random by contacting them personally. In this
way the consistency of the data obtained from the first sample can also be verified.
Similarly, if a researcher goes for a national survey of counsellors, he/she can draw a
sample of five states representing northern, eastern, southern, western an central regions.
From these five states, all the districts can be enlisted out of which a sample of 30 to 40
districts can be drawn randomly. Out of this, all the study centers in different districts can
be enumerated. A random sample of about 300 to 400 study centers is then drawn.
Further, a random sample of about 1500-2000 counsellors are drawn for the survey. The
successive random sampling of states, districts, study centers and finally counsellors also
provides a multi-stage sample.

Methods Of Sampling

Snowball Sampling

In snowball sampling, you begin by identifying someone who meets the criteria for inclusion in
your study. You then ask them to recommend others who they may know who also meet the
criteria. Although this method would hardly lead to representative samples, there are times when
it may be the best method available. Snowball sampling is especially useful when you are trying
to reach populations that are inaccessible or hard to find. For instance, if you are studying the
homeless, you are not likely to be able to find good lists of homeless people within a specific
geographical area. However, if you go to that area and identify one or two, you may find that
they know very well who the other homeless people in their vicinity are and how you can find
them.

Purposive sample

In purposive sampling, we sample with a purpose in mind. We usually would have one or
more specific predefined groups we are seeking. For instance, have you ever run into
people in a mall or on the street who are carrying a clipboard and who are stopping various
people and asking if they could interview them? Most likely they are conducting a
purposive sample (and most likely they are engaged in market research). They might be
looking for Caucasian females between 30-40 years old. They size up the people passing
 by and anyone who looks to be in that category they stop to ask if they will participate.
One of the first things they’re likely to do is verify that the respondent does in fact meet the
criteria for being in the sample. Purposive sampling can be very useful for situations where
you need to reach a targeted sample quickly and where sampling for proportionality is not
the primary concern. With a purposive sample, you are likely to get the opinions of your
target population, but you are also likely to overweight subgroups in your population that
are more readily accessible.

All of the methods that follow can be considered subcategories of purposive sampling
methods. We might sample for specific groups or types of people as in modal instance,
expert, or quota sampling. We might sample for diversity as in heterogeneity sampling. Or,
we might capitalize on informal social networks to identify specific respondents who are
hard to locate otherwise, as in snowball sampling. In all of these methods we know what
we want – we are sampling with a purpose.

Random purposive sampling

When the purposive sample is larger than one can handle, one may select a required
number of subjects from the purposively selected subjects. This is known as random
purposive sampling technique. For example, if 20potential participants were
purposively identified by the researcher, but only 10participants could be studied, a
random sample of 10 from the 20 potential participants would be chosen.

Quota Sampling

In quota sampling, you select people nonrandomly according to some fixed quota. There are two
types of quota sampling: proportional and non proportional. In proportional quota
sampling you want to represent the major characteristics of the population by sampling a
proportional amount of each. For instance, if you know the population has 40% women and 60%
men, and that you want a total sample size of 100, you will continue sampling until you get those
percentages and then you will stop. So, if you’ve already got the 40 women for your sample, but
not the sixty men, you will continue to sample men but even if legitimate women respondents
come along, you will not sample them because you have already “met your quota.” The problem
here (as in much purposive sampling) is that you have to decide the specific characteristics on
which you will base the quota. Will it be by gender, age, education race, religion, etc.?
Nonproportional quota sampling is a bit less restrictive. In this method, you specify the
minimum number of sampled units you want in each category. here, you’re not concerned with
having numbers that match the proportions in the population. Instead, you simply want to have
enough to assure that you will be able to talk about even small groups in the population. This
method is the non probabilistic analogue of stratified random sampling in that it is typically used
to assure that smaller groups are adequately represented in your sample.

Heterogeneity Sampling

We sample for heterogeneity when we want to include all opinions or views, and we aren’t
concerned about representing these views proportionately. Another term for this is sampling for
diversity. In many brainstorming or nominal group processes (including concept mapping), we
would use some form of heterogeneity sampling because our primary interest is in getting broad
spectrum of ideas, not identifying the “average” or “modal instassnce” ones. In effect, what we
would like to be sampling is not people, but ideas. We imagine that there is a universe of all
possible ideas relevant to some topic and that we want to sample this population, not the
population of people who have the ideas. Clearly, in order to get all of the ideas, and especially
the “outlier” or unusual ones, we have to include a broad and diverse range of participants.
Heterogeneity sampling is, in this sense, almost the opposite of model instance sampling.

Non-proportional quota sampling

It is a bit less restrictive. In this method, you specify the minimum number of sampled units you
want in each category. Here, you’re not concerned with having numbers that match the
proportions in the population. Instead, you simply want to have enough to assure that you will be
able to talk about even small groups in the population. This method is the non-probabilistic
analogue of stratified random sampling in that it is typically used to assure that smaller groups
are adequately represented in your sample
Expert Sampling

Expert sampling involves the assembling of a sample of persons with known or demonstrable
experience and expertise in some area. Often, we convene such a sample under the auspices of a
“panel of experts.” There are actually two reasons you might do expert sampling. First, because
it would be the best way to elicit the views of persons who have specific expertise. In this case,
expert sampling is essentially just a specific subcase of purposive sampling. But the other reason
you might use expert sampling is to provide evidence for the validity of another sampling
approach you’ve chosen. For instance, let’s say you do modal instance sampling and are
concerned that the criteria you used for defining the modal instance are subject to criticism. You
might convene an expert panel consisting of persons with acknowledged experience and insight
into that field or topic and ask them to examine your modal definitions and comment on their
appropriateness and validity. The advantage of doing this is that you aren’t out on your own
trying to defend your decisions – you have some acknowledged experts to back you. The
disadvantage is that even the experts can be, and often are, wrong.

CONCLUSION

Probability and non-probability sampling methods, both are the ways to collect data for research
purpose. Both have some advantages and disadvantages in different-different aspects. Probability
sampling methods considered as having more accuracy, still some error, technically known as
‘Margin of Error’ cannot be avoided. It can be calculated statistically and accounted for in the
results. While on the other hand, Non-Probability sampling method may be lopsided, loaded with
biases and having margin of error. Because, It is included as per the convenience of the
researcher.