6/27/2021 Abiot Tsegaye 1

Census or sampling-Sampling fundamentals: definitions

Sampling Theory

Sampling design process

Different types of sampling designs

Criteria for selecting a sampling procedure

Dealing with non-response issues in sampling

Selection of appropriate data collection method

A complete enumeration of all items
in the ‘population’ is known as
Census.
 Theselection of some part of a
population is called Sampling .
◦sampling is the process of obtaining
information about an entire population
by examining only a part of it.
 Sampling theory is a study of relationships
between a population and samples drawn from the
population.
 The theory of sampling is concerned with
estimating the properties of the population from
those of the sample.
 The movement from particular (sample) towards
general (universe/population) is known as
statistical induction or statistical inference.
◦ In more clear terms “from the sample we attempt to
draw inference concerning the universe/population.
 Sampling theory is designed to attain one or
more of the following objectives:
◦ Statistical estimation: sampling theory helps in
estimating unknown population parameters from a
knowledge of statistical measures based on sample
studies.
◦ Testing of hypotheses: sampling theory helps in
determining whether observed differences are
actually due to chance or really significant.
◦ Statistical inference: Sampling theory helps in
making generalization about the population/
universe from the studies based on samples drawn
from it.
A sample design is a definite plan for
obtaining a sample from the sampling
frame.
 It refers to the technique or the procedure
the researcher would adopt in selecting
some sampling units from which
inferences about the population is drawn.
 Sampling design is determined before
any data are collected.
 Universerefers to the total of the items or
units in any field of inquiry, or is the
complete group of items about which
knowledge is sought.
 The universe may be hypothetical or existent:
◦ Hypothetical: the universe in fact does not exist and
we can only imagine the items constituting it
 Eg. Tossing of a coin or throwing a dice are
examples or
◦ Existent universe: the universe of concrete objects
and the items constituting it really exist.
 The universe may be also finite or infinite:
◦ Finite universe is one which has a definite and
certain number of items,
 Eg. the population of a city, the number of
workers in a factory and the like are examples of
finite universes
◦ Infinite universe is the one which has uncertain and
indefinite number of items. i.e., we cannot have any
idea about the total number of items.,
 Eg. the number of stars in the sky, listeners of a
specific radio programme, throwing of a dice etc.
are examples of infinite universes
 Population refers to the total of items
about which is accessible and
information is desired.
 The attributes that are the object of
study are referred to as characteristics
and the units possessing them are called
elementary units.
 For instance, let's say you are doing a survey
research on one million teachers in Ethiopia.
◦ The universe is all the teachers.
 If you have access to only one million teachers
where you can draw a sample of one thousand
teachers, then
◦ your universe and population are the same.
 If you have access to only ten thousand teachers and
select only one thousand teachers, then
◦ your universe is one million teachers,
◦ your population is ten thousand teachers,
◦ your sample is one thousand teachers.
 Sampling frame(Source List) is the source material
or device from which a sample is drawn.
 It is a list of all those within a population who can
be sampled, and may include individuals, households
or institutions.
 Sampling unit refers to a singular value within
a sample database.
◦ For example, if you are conducting research using
a sample of university students, a single university student
would be a sampling unit.
 The elementary units or the group or
cluster of such units may form the basis
of sampling process in which case they
are called as sampling units.
 A list containing all such sampling units
is known as sampling frame.
 Thus sampling frame consists of a list of
items from which the sample is to be
drawn.
 A statistic is a characteristic of a sample, whereas a
parameter is a characteristic of a population.
 When we work out certain measures such as mean,
median, mode or the like ones from samples, then they
are called statistic(s) for they describe the
characteristics of a sample.
 When such measures describe the characteristics of a
population, they are known as parameter(s).
◦ For instance, the population mean (µ) is a parameter,
whereas the sample mean ( X ) is a statistic.
 To obtain the estimate of a parameter from a statistic
constitutes the prime objective of sampling analysis.
 Sample surveys do imply the study of a small portion
of the population and as such there would naturally be
a certain amount of inaccuracy in the information
collected.
 This inaccuracy may be termed as sampling error or
error variance.
 In other words, sampling errors are those errors which
arise on account of sampling and they generally
happen to be random variations (in case of random
sampling) in the sample estimates around the true
population values.
 Precision is the range within which the
population average (or other parameter) will
lie.
 For instance, if the estimate is 4000birr and
the precision desired is ± 4%, then the true
value will be no less than 3840birr and no
more than 4160birr.
 This is the range (3840birr to 4160birr)
within which the true answer should lie.
 The confidence level or reliability is the expected
percentage of times that the actual value will fall within the
stated precision limits.
 Thus, if we take a confidence level of 95%, then we mean
that there are 95 chances in 100 (or .95 in 1) that the sample
results represent the true condition of the population within
a specified precision range against 5 chances in 100 (or .05
in 1) that it does not.
 Precision is the range within which the answer may vary
and still be acceptable;
◦ Confidence level indicates the likelihood that the answer will fall
within that range
◦ Significance level indicates the likelihood that the answer will fall
outside that range
 Sample size refers to the number of items to be
selected from the universe to constitute a
sample.
 An optimum sample is one which fulfills the
requirements of efficiency, representativeness,
reliability and flexibility.
 Sample size determination requires
 specifying the amount of confidence
 estimate the variance in the population
 specifying the amount of desired accuracy.
 Standard sample size formula(Cochran’s formula) for
estimating a percentage:

Ch 13 19
 For example, suppose we want to calculate a sample
size of a large population whose degree of variability
is not known.
 Assuming the maximum variability, which is equal to
50% ( p =0.5) and taking 95% confidence level with
±5% precision, the calculation for required sample
size will be as follows
◦ p = 0.5 and hence q =1-0.5 = 0.5; e = 0.05; z =1.96
◦ n = (1.96)^2*0.5*0.5/0.05^2= 384
 Slovn(1960) and Yamane(1964) sample calculation
is a way to determine the sample size for a study.

 n = the sample size

 N = the population size
 e = the acceptance error
 95% confidence level and p = 0.5 are assumed
 For example, suppose we want to
calculate a sample size for a
population(N =13191) with ±5%
precision and 95% confidence level and
p =0.5, we get
 n= 13191/(1 + 13191*0.05^2) = 388
 The characteristics of a good sample design
are:
a) Sample design must result in a truly
representative sample.
b) Sample design must be such which results in
a small sampling error.
c) Sample design must be viable in the context
of funds available for the research study.
d) Sample design must be such so that
systematic bias can be controlled in a better
way.
 Read, and identify all the sample size determination
approaches.
 Write about them including their formulations with
pros and cons