Unit 7.

1 Introduction to Sampling
 Key points
01 Introduction

02 Key Terminologies in Sampling

03 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Assumptions
04 Generalization
 What is a Sample?

• A selected group of people or elements from which data are collected for a study.
 What is a Sample?
• Selecting a group of people, events, behaviors, or other elements with which
to conduct a study
• The sampling plan identifies the sampling method and defines the selection
process
• Members of the sample can be called the subjects or participants.
 What is a Population?
• A particular group of individuals or elements who are the focus of the
research

• Elements are the individual units of the population or sample

 What is a Population?
• Target Population
– An entire set of individuals or elements who meet the sampling criteria

• Accessible Population
– The portion of the target population to which the researcher has
reasonable access
 Sampling Frame and Sampling Plan
• Sampling frame: A listing of every member of the population, using the
sampling criteria to define membership in the population
• Subjects are selected from the sampling frame
• Sampling plan: Outlines strategies used to obtain a sample for a study
– Probability sampling plans: uses random sampling techniques to create
a sample.
– Non-probability sampling techniques: use non-random processes like
researcher judgment or convenience sampling.
 Sampling Criteria
• Inclusion Criteria:
Characteristics that the subject or element must possess to be part of the target
population

• Exclusion Criteria:
Characteristics that can cause a person or element to be excluded from the
target population
 Two ways of defining a Sampling Criteria
• Homogeneous
– As similar as possible so that extraneous variables can be controlled

• Heterogeneous
– Broad, diverse range used when a narrow focus is not wanted
 What is generalization?
• Extending the findings from the sample under study to the larger population

• The extent is influenced by the quality of the study and consistency of the
study’s findings.
 What is inappropriate generalization?
• Samples cannot be generalized beyond their sampling criteria.

• This means that results cannot be inferred to populations that differ from the
sample.

• This may lead to inappropriate generalizations

 References

 Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford university press. Part two,

Chapter 8, pp: 183
 Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford university press. Part three,
chapter 18, pp: 415