Scribd
Upload
14 views

Random Sampling (Definition, Types, Formula & Example)

The document discusses random sampling methods used in statistics. It defines random sampling and describes four main types: simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, and clustered sampling. Formulas for calculating random sampling probabilities are provided. Advantages include reducing bias and not requiring technical knowledge. An example of random employee selection is also given.

Uploaded by

Waseem Javaid Soomro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views

Random Sampling (Definition, Types, Formula & Example)

The document discusses random sampling methods used in statistics. It defines random sampling and describes four main types: simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, and clustered sampling. Formulas for calculating random sampling probabilities are provided. Advantages include reducing bias and not requiring technical knowledge. An example of random employee selection is also given.

Uploaded by

Waseem Javaid Soomro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Random Sampling

In statistics, sampling is a method of selecting the subset of the population to make statistical
inferences. From the sample, the characteristics of the whole population can be estimated. Sampling
in market research can be classified into two different types, namely probability sampling and non-
probability sampling. In this article, we are going to discuss one of the types of probability sampling
called “Random Sampling” in detail with its definition, different types of random sampling, formulas
and examples.

Table of Contents:

Random sampling Definition


Types of Random Sampling
Simple Random Sampling
Systematic Sampling
Stratified Sampling
Clustered Sampling
Random Sampling Formula
Advantages
Example
FAQs

Random Sampling Definition


Random sampling is a method of choosing a sample of observations from a population to make
assumptions about the population. It is also called probability sampling. The counterpart of this
sampling is Non-probability sampling or Non-random sampling. The primary types of this sampling
are simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and multistage sampling. In
the sampling methods, samples which are not arbitrary are typically called convenience samples.

Sampling Methods
Population and Sample
Probability
Sample Space

The primary feature of probability sampling is that the choice of observations must occur in a
‘random’ way such that they do not differ in any significant way from observations, which are not
sampled. We assume here that statistical experiments contain data that is gathered through random
sampling.
Type of Random Sampling
The random sampling method uses some manner of a random choice. In this method, all the suitable
individuals have the possibility of choosing the sample from the whole sample space. It is a time
consuming and expensive method. The advantage of using probability sampling is that it ensures the
sample that should represent the population. There are four major types of this sampling method,
they are;

1. Simple Random Sampling


2. Systematic Sampling
3. Stratified Sampling
4. Clustered Sampling

Now let us discuss its types one by one here.

Simple random sampling


In this sampling method, each item in the population has an equal and likely possibility of getting
selected in the sample (for example, each member in a group is marked with a specific number).
Since the selection of item completely depends on the possibility, therefore this method is called
“Method of chance Selection”. Also, the sample size is large, and the item is selected randomly.
Thus it is known as “Representative Sampling”.

Systematic Random Sampling


In this method, the items are chosen from the destination population by choosing the random
selecting point and picking the other methods after a fixed sample period. It is equal to the ratio of the
total population size and the required population size.

Stratified Random Sampling


In this sampling method, a population is divided into subgroups to obtain a simple random sample
from each group and complete the sampling process (for example, number of girls in a class of 50
strength). These small groups are called strata. The small group is created based on a few features
in the population. After dividing the population into smaller groups, the researcher randomly selects
the sample.

Clustered Sampling
Cluster sampling is similar to stratified sampling, besides the population is divided into a large
number of subgroups (for example, hundreds of thousands of strata or subgroups). After that, some
of these subgroups are chosen at random and simple random samples are then gathered within
these subgroups. These subgroups are known as clusters. It is basically utilised to lessen the cost of
data compilation.
Random Sampling Formula
If P is the probability, n is the sample size, and N is the population. Then;

The chance of getting a sample selected only once is given by;

P = 1 – (N-1/N).(N-2/N-1)…..(N-n/N-(n-1))

Cancelling = 1-(N-n/n)

P = n/N

The chance of getting a sample selected more than once is given by;

P = 1-(1-(1/N))n

Advantages of Simple Random Sampling


Some of the advantages of random sampling are as follows:

It helps to reduce the bias involved in the sample, compared to other methods of sampling and it is
considered as a fair method of sampling.
This method does not require any technical knowledge, as it is a fundamental method of collecting the data.
The data collected through this method is well informed.
As the population size is large in the simple random sampling method, researchers can create the sample
size that they want.
It is easy to pick the smaller sample size from the existing larger population.

Random Sampling Example


Suppose a firm has 1000 employees in which 100 of them have to be selected for onsite work. All
their names will be put in a basket to pull 100 names out of those. Now, each employee has an equal
chance of getting selected, so we can also easily calculate the probability (P) of a given employee
being selected since we know the sample size (n) and the population size(N).

Therefore, the chance of selection of an employee only once is;

P = n/N = 100/1000 = 10%

And the chance of selection of an employee more than once is;

P = 1-(1-(1/N))n

P = 1 – (999/1000)100

P = 0.952

P ≈ 9.5%
Frequently Asked Questions on Random Sampling
Q1 What is meant by random sampling?
The random sampling method is the sampling method, in which each item in the population has
an equal chance of being selected in the sample. Hence, this method is also called the method
of chance sampling.

Q2 Is a simple random sampling method a probability Sampling?


Yes, the simple random sampling method is one of the types of probability sampling.

Q3 Mention two advantages of simple random sampling?


The simple random sampling method does not require any technical knowledge.
Compared to the other sampling methods, the simple random sampling method reduces the bias
involved in the sample.

Q4 What are the different methods of probability sampling?


The different methods of probability sampling are:
Simple random sampling
Systematic sampling
Clustered sampling
Stratified random sampling

Q5 Which sampling method is called the method of chance?


The simple random sampling method is also called the method of chance, as the selection of
items completely depends on luck or probability.

You might also like