The Sample and

Sampling
Procedures
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2
In a quantitative research study, information is collected
from various sources. Most often than not, the source of
data includes persons or a group of individuals.
Subjects are the people in the researcher's experiment - usually quantitative
research. The subject is a term used more in science (quizlet.com.,2020)
Respondents answer (respond/reply) to questionnaires - usually quantitative
research. Respondents generally answer (respond/reply to) the questions asked
by the researcher - no more, no less (quizlet.com.,2020).
Participants participate and answer questions in qualitative studies (eg.
interviews and focus groups). Because qualitative studies are more in-depth
than quantitative, the participant in qualitative studies contributes more (is
more active) than respondents to a survey or subjects in an experiment. The
participant generally gives much more detailed answers than a respondent
would in a survey (quizlet.com.,2020).
The research participants are the individuals who
participate in a research study. Sometimes there can be
so many research participants which may not be so
practical during the data gathering process.
Sampling may be defined as measuring a small portion of
something and then making a general statement about the whole
thing. It produces samples that are a part or portion of the whole
population.
Population refers to the total number of people, objects, or things
under study. It is the totality of individuals that possesses some
observable characteristics also known as variables. The
population can be finite or infinite. It is a finite population
when the universe from which the numbers of a population are to
be taken can be determined or counted immediately. It is an
infinite population when the universe from which the numbers
of a population are to be taken cannot be determined or counted
immediately
General Types of Sampling
Probability sampling means that a sample is taken as a
proportion from the population, every individual in the population
has an equal chance to be included in the sample. The types of
probability sampling are pure random sampling, systematic
sampling, stratified random sampling, and cluster sampling
(Fleetwood, 2020; de Belen & Feliciano, 2015).
Pure random sampling is one in which everyone in the
population of the inquiry has an equal chance of being selected to
be included in the sample (McCombes, S. n.d).
This is also called the lottery or raffle type of sampling.
Example
Suppose there are 200 persons in the population and 20 percent
is the population to be chosen. Hence, 20 percent of 200 is 40.
The names of all the 200 persons are written each on a piece of
paper. The pieces of paper will then be placed in a container. 40
pieces of the papers will be drawn by chance. Those whose names
are drawn are included in the sample.
Systematic sampling is a technique of sampling in which every
nth name in a list may be selected to be included in a sample.
This is used when the subjects or respondents in the study are
arrayed or arranged in some systematic or logical manner such as
alphabetical arrangement, residential or house arrays,
geographical placement from north to south, etc.
Example
If a listed population is 1000, and the sample size is 100, the
research will select every 10th (1000 divided by 100) person from
the list where the selection of a number between 1 and 10 is at
random as the starting point.
Stratified random sampling is the process of selecting randomly,
samples from the different strata (groups) of the population used
in the study.
This is used when the population of the inquiry has class
stratifications or groupings.
This method is used when the population is heterogeneous, where
certain homogenous groups, or of similar characteristics can be
isolated to form strata.
A stratified sample is obtained by taking samples from each
stratum or group of population.
Example
Suppose the students of a college are respondents in a study. The
students are stratified according to the courses they are taking,
their sex, and the curricular years they are in. The sample of 20%
is taken from every stratum based on course, sex, and curricular
year. For instance, there are 50 male students in the first year
taking education. The sample is 20% of 50 is 10. There are 380
female students in the second year taking up marketing. The
sample is 20% of 380 is 76%.
Cluster sampling is usually used when the population is
unknown or the researcher cannot complete the total list of the
members of the population he wishes to study but he can only
complete the list of groups or clusters of the population.
In a survey of nurse- applicants in various employment agencies,
the researcher selects several agencies at random and conducts
an interview of very 10th nurse applicants in the agencies.
Nonprobability Sampling

takes place when the sample is not a proportion of the

population. Among the common nonprobability sampling
techniques are accidental, quota, convenience, and
purposive (Fleetwood, 2020; de Belen & Feliciano, 2015).
Accidental sampling is method of selecting the subjects
who happen to be available at that time or volunteered
themselves to be the subjects of the study.
This is said to be the weakest of all sampling procedures
because it is impossible to estimate the error from the
sampling in the process of selection.
Example
An interviewer stands in a street corner and interviews
everyone who passes by.
Quota sampling - In this method, a specified number of persons
of certain types are included in the sample.
This is the most commonly used in opinion polling surveys and
market research.
This is the most commonly used in opinion polling surveys and
market research.
It is also called a street-based market research survey because the
researcher interviews members of the public up to a given quota.
Example
Suppose the reactions of the people towards a certain
issue is to be determined. It might be decided that ten
doctors, eight lawyers, 15 businessmen, 20 vendors, and
25 farmers constitute the sample.
Convenience sampling is the process of picking out
people in the most convenient and fastest way to
immediately get their reactions to a certain hot and
controversial issue.
Purposive sampling is also called judgment sampling because
sample groups are judged to be typical of the chosen population.
This method simply means choosing the sample with a specific
purpose or objective in mind. Thus, you must decide the criteria
for choosing your samples. It determines the target population,
those to be involved in the study.
In this technique, the respondents are chosen based on their
knowledge of the information desired.
If research is to be conducted on the history of a place, the old
people of the place must be consulted.
If methods and techniques of teaching are the subjects of an
inquiry, teachers are the ones to be contacted.
Example
In an instance that there is a hot and controversial issue
about the raising of the price of gasoline, the most
convenient and fastest way of reaching people is by
social media to get their opinion.
Steps in Computing the Size of
a Sample
1. Determine the size of the study population. This is easily determined by the
scope and delimitation of the study.
2. Decide on the margin of error. As much as possible the margin of error
should be not higher than 5%.
3. Use the Slovin’s formula
If the sampling is clustered, or if the population is stratified, compute the
sample proportion (percent) by dividing the result in No. 3 by the population

Multiply the number of sampling units in each final sampling stratum by the
rate (percent) to find the sample from each final sampling stratum.

Add the samples from all the final sampling strata to find the total sample.
Example: A study of the teaching of science in the high
schools of the division will be conducted, and science
teachers will be the respondents. There are 245 teachers
of biology, 245 teachers of chemistry, and 123 teachers
of physics. There is a total of 613 respondents.
IF the researcher will use stratified
sampling, the process will involve:
Step 4. The teachers are grouped into three categories according to the branch
of science they are teaching, so we use stratified sampling.
Step 5: Get the sample proportion or the percentage per group using the
formula:
QUIZ