CLUSTER OR MULTI-STAGE RANDOM SAMPLING

This random sampling deals with sampling from a population spread on a wide geographic
area or region. This sampling allows for the division of the study population spread on a wide
geographic region into clusters, usually in: country, region, provinces and other boundaries.
Thereafter sampling all the cluster created.

Advantages of cluster or multistage random sampling

 A detailed sampling frame for selected clusters only rather than for the entire target
area
 It is time and cost efficient to travel the wide geographical area.

Disadvantages of cluster or multistage random sampling

 There is a risk of missing important subgroups

 Lacking representation of the target population.

Exercise
Suppose a researcher would like to investigate the health conditions of orphans aged below
10 years in the whole country of Zambia, using a sample of 500 orphans, but no list is
available either as mentioned at the local level. Explain how you would sample using cluster
random sampling.