Probability Sampling

• Another commonly used sampling approach is probability sampling.

• This type of sampling is mostly used in quantitative studies.
• A commonsensical conceptualization of probability sampling would be that it is a
family of sampling techniques that accord elements in a population an equal chance
of being selected for the sample.
• Researchers agree that probability sampling is used mainly with quantitative
research. Rubin and Barbie (2009) note that in quantitative studies sampling deals
with generalizability, where a few elements are selected for observation and the
findings are applied to the larger group or the population.
• Probability sampling is also known as representative sampling (Saunders et al.,
2009). According to Lim and Ting (2012) this type of sampling can also be called
random sampling.
• This type of sampling is often allied with survey-based research in which researchers seek to
make inferences about the population.
• This reasoning is drawn from the fact that random samples can be analysed using probability
theory.
• Using the same line of reasoning, Frankfort-Nachimias and Leon-Guerrero (2009) note that in
order to obtain samples that are representative, social researchers use probability sampling.
• It is further stated that the purpose of probability sampling is to select a sample which is as
representative of the population as possible.
• Rubin and Barbie (2009) accept that probability sampling relies on scientific and precise
procedure for selecting research participants hence it is not a haphazard approach.
• These scholars however point out that the concept of representativeness maintains the
common sense meaning of the term which connotes that the characteristics of the sample
must closely approximate those of the population.
• Boscaino and Giambalvo (2014) note that probability sampling is done when the
aim is to obtain an estimate of the actual value of the population parameter.
•  According to Jensen and Shamway (2010), ‘probability sampling uses a random
selection method to set up a process or procedure that assures that the different
units in the target population have equal probabilities of being selected.’
• Similarly, it is also noted that with probability sampling, each element in the
population has a known probability of being selected in the sample.
•  Likewise, Boscaino and Giambalvo (2014) underline that probability sampling
allows sample units to be selected in a random way and with a non-zero and
known probability of being part of the sample.
• Accordingly, this eliminates bias and allows the researcher to calculate the probability of
inclusion, determine sampling error, and make inferences and conclusions about the
population.
•  Oakshott (2014) also presents an extension of this argument by stating that quantitative
sampling seeks to eliminate bias through ensuring that the sample is representative and
through ensuring that the accuracy of the sample is dependent on the size of the
sample.
• Despite the above noted benefits of precision, it is however acknowledged that it is not
always feasible to use probability sampling hence social scientists lean on non-
probability sampling techniques.
•  From an analysis of views put forward by the above scholars on probability sampling, it
is acknowledged that probability sampling relies on principles of statistical inference to
generalize from the sample to the population.
• Probability sampling also enables the researcher to specify for each case in
the population the probability of its inclusion in the sample.
•  Probability sampling also enables the researcher to establish how findings
from the sample reflect what may be found from studying the population.
•  This analysis clearly reveals some of the most noted strengths of
probability sampling.
•  However, it is also noted that though probability sampling is credited for
its accuracy, social scientists prefer non-probability samples because they
are convenient and cheaper to collect though their limitation is that they
do not rely on inferential statistics to generalize findings.
• Probability sampling is more expensive and requires more time
compared to non-probability sampling. Random sampling does not
entirely eliminate the possibility that units selected may not be
representative of the population from which they are drawn if the
random sample is small.