Chapter Four: Sampling Design and Procedure

2.1. Basic Concepts of Sampling Theory

1. Population or universe: is a group of all elements /observations (persons,

animals, objects, measurements, etc) under consideration in a certain

problem.

Note: In sampling population, not necessarily referring to people.

Examples:

All students in this university;

All households in Ambo town;

All light bulbs produced by a firm in a single day;

All fish in a lake, etc.

 2.1. Basic Concepts of Sampling Theory

2. Census is a collection of data from the whole

population (that is, complete enumeration). It is a
survey of everyone in the population.

3. Reference population (source or target

population) the population of interest, to which
the researcher would like to generalize the results
of the study.
 Cont’d…
Example: If a researcher would like to study
“Determinant of loan repayment of farm households
the case of west shoa zone, Ethiopia”, then the
reference population is all farm households in west
shoa zone who are using a loan.
 Cont’d…
4. Sample is the small group that is chosen for the
study.
It is a part or portion or sub set of a population taken
so that some generalizations about the population can
be made.

5. Sampling is a process of taking samples from a

population of interest for purpose of an inquiry.
 Cont’d…
6. Sample size is the number of individuals or
observations in a sample (usually denoted by
n).

7. Parameter is any measurable characteristic of

a population.

Example: Population means, Population

standard deviations, population medians, etc.
 Cont’d…
8. Statistic is a number resulting from
manipulation of sample data.

Example: sample means, sample standard

deviations, sample medians, etc. A statistic is
used to estimate a population parameter such


as Population mean ( ), Population standard



deviation ( ), etc.
 Cont’d…
9. Sampling Unit is the ultimate unit to be sampled (elements of

the population to be sampled).It is the unit of selection in the

sampling process.

Examples:

 In a sample of households, the sampling unit is a household;

 In a sample of students, a student is the sampling unit.

 In a sample of districts, the sampling unit is a district,

etc.
 Cont’d…
10. Sampling Frame: population, from which a sample
is to be drawn.
Example: If a researcher would like to do a research on
poverty levels of residents in a town and if she/he
decided that the sampling unit for the study is an
individual, then the sampling frame would be the list
of all individuals living in that town.
 Cont’d…
11. Sample design is a set of procedures for
selecting the units from the population that are
to be in the sample.
 Cont’d…
An application of the terminologies
Example title of the study: ‘Identify factors affecting co-
operative learning practice. The case of Ambo University’
Population: All students in Ambo University in 2016/17
Sampling Frame: All students appearing in the list of
students prepared by the registrar on October 30, 2017
Sample design: Probability sampling
 Cont’d…
Sample size: 200 students selected from the sampling frame.

Sampling unit (unit of analysis): a student

Statistic: From the total sample 60% of students conclude that

lack of awareness about CL is one of the main problem

Parameter: About 50% to 70% students in the university are

probably lack of awareness about CL one of the major
problem (estimate derived from sample statistic).
 4.2. Census vs. Sample Survey

Census: a complete enumeration of all items in the

population
 May be used by government institutions (e.g.
population census)

Advantages of Census

Reliability: data derived through census are highly

reliable.

Detailed information: Census data yield much

information.
 Cont’d…
Limitation of census
 Expensiveness: Investigating each elements of the
population is expensive to any individual researcher.
 Excessive time and energy: beside cost factor, census
survey takes too long time and consumes too much
energy
 4.3. Sampling

Sampling: is the process of obtaining information about an entire

population by examining only a part of it.

All this is done on the assumption that the sample data will enable

him to estimate the population parameters.

Sample should be truly representative of population characteristics

without any bias so that it may result in valid and reliable.

Sample: the selected respondents/items

Sampling techniques/ design: the selection process

Sample survey: the survey conducted

 Cont’d…
Characteristics of a good sample
Representative-ness
Free from bias
Adequate and it yields accurate results
The subjects of good sample are easily approachable.
Makes the research work more feasible.
Nature of universe: homogenous or heterogeneous
 Cont’d…
If the items of the universe are:
Homogenous: a small sample can serve the purpose.
Heterogeneous: a large sample would be required.
Technically, this can be termed as the dispersion
factor
 Cont’d….
Major Reasons for Sampling

Saves time and money

Enable more accurate measurements

Resource Limitations: A sample study is usually less expensive than a census.

Infinite Population: sampling is also the only process possible if the population

is infinite.

Impossibility of census: sometimes taking a complete census to gather

information is economically impossible. Obtaining information may require a

change, or destruction of the item from which information is being gathered.

Example: testing the quality of a commodity (beer, coffee, etc.)

 Cont’d….
Limitations of sampling:

Less Accuracy: in comparison to census technique the conclusion

derived from sample are more liable to error.

Misleading conclusion: if the sample is not carefully selected or if

samples are arbitrarily selected, the conclusion derived from them

will become misleading if extended to all population.

Need for specialized knowledge: the sample technique can be

successful only if a competent and able scientist makes the

selection.
 4.3.1. Sampling design and steps in sampling design

There are two principles underlying any sample design:

The need to avoid bias in the selection procedure

The need to gain maximum precision.

Bias can arise:

if the selection of the sample is done by some non-random method i.e.
selection is consciously or unconsciously influenced by human choice

if the sampling frame (i.e. list, index, population record) does not
adequately cover the target population.

if some sections of the population are impossible to find or refuse to

co-operate.
 4.3.1.1. Steps in Sampling Design

1st. Identifying the relevant population: when one wants to undertake a sample

survey the relevant population from which the sample is going to be drawn need

to be identified.

2nd Determining the method of sampling:

• Whether a probability sampling procedure or a non-probability sampling

procedure has to be used is also very important.

3rd . Specify sampling unit:

• Sampling unit may be geographical unit such as Region, Zone, District and

Kebeles.

• It may be a social unit such as family, club, school and community

 Cont’d…
4th . Specify sampling frame:

A list of elements from which the sample is actually drawn is

important and necessary.

5th . Identifying parameters of interest:

• What specific population characteristics (variables and

attributes) may be of interest.

6th. Determining the sample size

• The determination of the sample size deepens on several factors.

 4.3.1.2. Criteria to Determine the Sample Size

The size of sample should not be excessively large nor too small. It

should be optimum. An optimum sample is one which fulfills the

requirements of efficiency, representativeness, reliability and flexibility.

The determination of the sample size depends on several factors.

i. Degree of Variability: refers to the distribution of attributes in the

population. The more heterogeneous a population, the larger the sample

size required to obtain a given level of precision. The less variable

(more homogeneous) a population, the smaller the sample size.

 Cont’d…
ii. Level of precision/confidence interval: sometimes called

sampling error, is the range in which the true value of the

population is estimated to be. This range is often expressed

in percentage points (e.g., ±5 percent).

Example: If a researcher finds that 60% of farmers in the

sample have adopted a recommended practice with a

precision rate of ±5%, then he or she can conclude that

between 55% and 65% of farmers in the population have

adopted the practice.

 Cont’d…
Note: 5% is the most commonly used margin of error, but we may

want anywhere from 1% to 10% depending on our survey.

Increasing the margin error more than10% is not possible

iii. Level of confidence: It means how sure you can be that a

particular sample’s estimate fall within a specified range of

statistics. Mostly accept a confidence level of 95% or 99%.

iv. Response rate: refers to the percentage of people who do

actually the survey questions.

4.1.1.3. Strategies for Determining Sample
Size
There are several approaches to determining the
sample size. These include:
a. Using a census for small populations, imitating a
sample size of similar studies,
b. Using published tables, and
c. Applying formulas to calculate a sample size.
 Cont’d…

a. Using a census for small populations

One approach is to use the entire population as the
sample. Although cost considerations make this
impossible for large populations, a census is
attractive for small populations (e.g., 200 or less).
A census eliminates sampling error and provides data
on all the individuals in the population.
 Cont’d…
b. Using a sample size of a similar study
Use the same sample size as those of studies
similar to the one you plan. The procedures
employed in these studies you may run the
risk of repeating errors that were made in
determining the sample size for another study.
However, a review of the literature in your
discipline can provide guidance about
“typical” sample sizes that are used.