7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

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Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method And

Examples
By Julia Simkus Updated on June 22, 2023
Reviewed by Saul Mcleod, PhD

Cluster random sampling is a probability sampling method where researchers divide a large
population into smaller groups known as clusters, and then select randomly among the clusters to
form a sample.

Cluster sampling is typically used when the population and the desired sample size are particularly
large.

A cluster sample is a sampling method where the researcher divides the entire population into separate groups, or clusters. Then, a

random sample of these clusters is selected. All observations within the chosen clusters are included in the sample. This method is

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7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

typically used when the population is large, widely dispersed, and inaccessible. The clusters should ideally mirror the characteristics

of the population as a whole.

The purpose of cluster sampling is to reduce the total number of participants in a study if the
original population is too large to study as a whole. These clusters serve as a small-scale
representation of the total population, and taken together, the clusters should cover the
characteristics of the entire population.

This sampling method reduces the cost and time of a study by increasing efficiency. Researchers
sometimes will use pre-existing groups such as schools, cities, or households as their clusters.

Key Terms

A sample is the participants you select from a target population (the group you are interested
in) to make generalizations about. As an entire population tends to be too large to work with, a
smaller group of participants must act as a representative sample.

Representative means the extent to which a sample mirrors a researcher’s target population
and reflects its characteristics (e.g., gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic level). In an attempt to
select a representative sample and avoid sampling bias (the over-representation of one category
of participant in the sample), psychologists utilize a variety of sampling methods.

Generalisability means the extent to which their findings can be applied to the larger
population of which their sample was a part.

Table of Contents
1. Cluster Sampling Techniques
2. Applications
3. How to Cluster Sample?
4. Advantages
5. Limitations
6. Example Situations
7. Cluster Sampling vs. Stratified Sampling

Cluster Sampling Techniques

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7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

Single-stage cluster sampling

A single-stage cluster is a type of cluster sampling where each unit of the chosen clusters is
sampled. Researchers will first divide the total sample into a predetermined number of
clusters based on how large they want each cluster to be.

Then, they randomly select and sample from the clusters and collect data from each
individual unit in the selected clusters.

Double-stage cluster sampling

In two-stage cluster sampling, researchers will only collect data from a random subsample of
individual units within each of the selected clusters to use as the sample.

This technique is less precise than single-stage sampling and should only be used when it is
too challenging or expensive to test the entire cluster.

Multi-stage cluster sampling

This type of cluster sampling involves the same process as double-stage sampling, except
with a few extra steps.

In multi-stage sampling, researchers will continue to randomly sample elements from within
the clusters until they reach a manageable sample size.

Applications
Cluster sampling is used when the target population is too large or spread out, and studying each
subject would be costly, time-consuming, and improbable.

Cluster sampling allows researchers to create smaller, more manageable subsections of the
population with similar characteristics. Cluster sampling is particularly useful in areas of
geographical sampling when the populations are widely dispersed.

Researchers will form clusters based on a geographical area by grouping individuals within a
community, neighborhood, or local area into a single cluster.

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7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

Cluster sampling is also used in market research when researchers cannot collect information
about the population as a whole. Lastly, cluster sampling can be used to estimate high mortality
rates, such as from wars, famines, or natural disasters.

How To Cluster Sample?

1. First, choose the target population that you wish to study and determine your desired sample
size.

2. Then, divide your sample into clusters. When forming the clusters, make sure each cluster’s
population is diverse, has a similar distribution of characteristics to the distribution of the
population as a whole, and has the same number of members. The goal is to form clusters that
are representative of the total population as a whole.

3. Next, select clusters by a random selection process. It is important to randomly select from the
clusters to preserve your results’ validity. The number of clusters selected is based on how large
the sample size is.

4. In single-stage sampling, collect data from each individual unit of the clusters you selected in
Step 3.

5. In the case of double-stage or multi-stage sampling, you randomly select individual units from
within the selected clusters to use as your sample. You will then collect your data from each of
these individual units. Double-stage and multi-stage clustering tend to be easier than single-
stage because you will work with a much smaller sample.

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0:00 / 0:12

Cluster sampling method in statistics. Research on sample collecting data in scientific survey
techniques.

Advantages

Time and cost-efficient

Cluster sampling is cheaper and quicker than other sampling methods. For example, it reduces
travel expenses for wide geographical populations.

High external validity

If your population is clustered properly to represent every possible characteristic of the entire
population, your clusters will accurately reflect the entire population.

Practicality and ease

This type of sampling process enables researchers to study large populations that would otherwise
be too challenging or complicated to analyze otherwise.

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Limitations

High sampling error

When the clusters do not mirror the population’s characteristics or serve as a mini-representation
of the population as a whole, there will be less statistical certainty and accuracy. This error is even
greater when you use more stages of clustering.

Complexity
Planning study designs for cluster sampling usually requires more attention because researchers
need to determine how to divide up a larger population efficiently and properly.

Example Situations
Assess immunization coverage (Henderson & Sundaresan, 1982).

Estimate density of waterfowl wintering (Smith, Conroy, & Brakhage, 1995).

Conduct a rapid assessment of health in communities affected by natural disasters (Malilay,

Flanders, & Brogan, 1996).

Determine forest inventories (Roesch, 1993).

Assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in South China and its impact on health-
related quality of life (Xiong, 2004).

Estimate the size of hidden and hard to access populations (Medina & Thompson, 2004).

Cluster Sampling Vs. Stratified Sampling

Stratified sampling is a method where researchers divide a population into smaller subpopulations
known as a stratum. Stratums are formed based on shared, unique characteristics of the members,
such as age, income, race, or education level.

Then, members of the strata are randomly selected to form a sample.

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7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

Researchers using stratified sampling divide the population into groups based on age, religion,
ethnicity, or income level and randomly choose from these strata to form a sample.

Alternatively, researchers using cluster sampling will use naturally divided groups to separate the
population (i.e., city blocks or school districts) and then randomly select elements from these
clusters to be a part of the sample.

References
Felix-Medina, M. H., & Thompson, S. K. (2004). Combining link-tracing sampling and cluster
sampling to estimate the size of hidden populations. JOURNAL OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS-
STOCKHOLM-, 20 (1), 19-38.

Henderson, R. H., & Sundaresan, T. (1982). Cluster sampling to assess immunization coverage: a
review of experience with a simplified sampling method. Bulletin of the World Health
Organization, 60 (2), 253–260.

Malilay, J., Flanders, W. D., & Brogan, D. (1996). A modified cluster-sampling method for post-
disaster rapid assessment of needs. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 74 (4), 399–405.

Roesch, F. A. (1993). Adaptive cluster sampling for forest inventories. Forest Science, 39 (4), 655-
669.

Smith, D. R., Conroy, M. J., & Brakhage, D. H. (1995). Efficiency of Adaptive Cluster Sampling for
Estimating Density of Wintering Waterfowl. Biometrics, 51 (2), 777–788.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2532964

Steven K. Thompson (1990) Adaptive Cluster Sampling, Journal of the American Statistical
Association, 85:412,1050-1059, DOI: 10.1080/01621459.1990.10474975

Xiong, L. S., Chen, M. H., Chen, H. X., Xu, A. G., Wang, W. A., & Hu, P. J. (2004). A population‐
based epidemiologic study of irritable bowel syndrome in South China: stratified randomized
study by cluster sampling. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 19 (11), 1217-1224.

Further Information
Sampling Methods

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7/15/23, 2:33 PM Cluster Sampling: Definition, Method and Examples

Quota Sampling

Snowball Sampling

Sedgwick, P. (2014). Cluster sampling. Bmj, 348.

Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling methods in research methodology; how to choose a sampling

technique for research. How to Choose a Sampling Technique for Research (April 10, 2016).

Marketing researchers often use city blocks as clusters in cluster sampling.

Using this fact, explain how a market researcher might use multistage
cluster sampling to select a sample of consumers from all cities having a
population of more than 10,000 .
In multistage cluster sampling, the process begins by dividing the larger population into clusters,
then randomly selecting and subdividing them for analysis.

For market researchers studying consumers across cities with a population of more than 10,000,
the first stage could be selecting a random sample of such cities. This forms the first cluster.

The second stage might randomly select several city blocks within these chosen cities – forming
the second cluster.

Finally, they could randomly select households or individuals from each selected city block for
their study. This way, the sample becomes more manageable while still reflecting the
characteristics of the larger population across different cities.

The idea is to progressively narrow the sample to maintain representativeness and allow for
manageable data collection.

When is cluster sampling appropriate?

Cluster sampling is appropriate when:

1. The population is widespread geographically, and conducting simple random sampling is costly
or impractical. Clusters can be geographically based to minimize travel costs.
2. Data collection involves face-to-face interviews or on-site inspections.
3. A list of individuals in the population is unavailable, but it’s possible to identify clusters

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representing the population.

4. The population is naturally divided into groups (clusters), and these clusters are internally
heterogeneous, i.e., they reflect the diversity of the overall population.

It provides a balance between statistical accuracy and cost-effectiveness in such cases.

What is a cluster sample?

A cluster sample is a sampling method where the researcher divides the entire population into
separate groups, or clusters. Then, a random sample of these clusters is selected. All observations
within the chosen clusters are included in the sample. This method is typically used when the
population is large, widely dispersed, and inaccessible. The clusters should ideally mirror the
characteristics of the population as a whole.

Reviewer Author

Saul Mcleod, PhD

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Educator, Researcher

Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in
further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the
Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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