Sampling Distribution
Sampling Distribution
Sampling
Random Non-random
Random and Nonrandom Sampling
• Random sampling
• Every unit of the population has the same probability of being
included in the sample.
• A chance mechanism is used in the selection process.
• Eliminates bias in the selection process
• Nonrandom Sampling
• Every unit of the population does not have the same probability
of being included in the sample.
• Open the selection bias
• Not appropriate data collection methods for most statistical
methods
Simple Random Sampling
• Every individual or item from the population has
an equal chance of being selected
• Selection may be with replacement or without
replacement
• Samples obtained from table of random numbers
or computer random number generators
• May not be a good representation of the
population’s underlying characteristics
Systematic Sampling
• Purchase orders for the previous fiscal year are
serialized 1 to 10,000 (N = 10,000).
• A sample of fifty (n = 50) purchases orders is
needed for an audit.
• k = 10,000/50 = 200
• First sample element randomly selected from the
first 200 purchase orders. Assume the 45th
purchase order was selected.
• Subsequent sample elements: 245, 445, 645, . . .
Stratified Sampling
• Divide population into two or more subgroups (called
strata) according to some common characteristic
• A simple random sample is selected from each
subgroup, with sample sizes proportional to strata sizes
• Samples from subgroups are combined into one
• Ensures representation of individuals across the entire
population
Stratified Random Sample: Population
of FM Radio Listeners
Stratified by Age
20 - 30 years old
(homogeneous within)
(alike) Hetergeneous
(different)
30 - 40 years old between
(homogeneous within)
(alike) Hetergeneous
(different)
40 - 50 years old between
(homogeneous within)
(alike)
Cluster Sampling
• Population is divided into several “clusters,” each
representative of the population
• A simple random sample of clusters is selected
– All items in the selected clusters can be used, or items
can be chosen from a cluster using another probability
sampling technique
• cost effective
• Less efficient (need larger sample to acquire the
same level of precision)
Nonrandom Sampling
• Convenience Sampling: sample elements are
selected for the convenience of the researcher
• Judgment Sampling: sample elements are selected
by the judgment of the researcher
• Quota Sampling: sample elements are selected until
the quota controls are satisfied
• Snowball Sampling: survey subjects are selected
based on referral from other survey respondents
Types of Survey Errors
• Coverage error or selection bias
– Exists if some groups are excluded from the frame and have no chance of
being selected
• Sampling error
– Variation from sample to sample will always exist
• Measurement error
– Due to weaknesses in question design, respondent error, and interviewer’s
effects on the respondent
Sampling Distributions
• A sampling distribution is a distribution of all
of the possible values of a statistic for a given
size sample selected from a population
Standard Error of the Mean
• Different samples of the same size from the same population
will yield different sample means
• If the standard error is small, most of the sample means will be
near the center of population mean.
• Thus a particular sample mean has a good chance of being close
to the population mean, and will be a good estimator of the
population mean.
• Conversely, a large standard error means that the given sample
mean will be a poor estimator of the population mean.
• Note that the standard error of the mean decreases as the
sample size increases
Sampling from Normal Populations
• If a population is normal with mean μ and
standard deviation σ, the sampling
distribution of X is also normally distributed
with
μX μ
σ
σX
n
Sampling Distribution Properties
Normal Population
μX μ Distribution
μ x
σ Sampling Distribution
σX is also normal (and has
n the same mean)
μx x
Sampling Distribution Properties
As n increases, Larger
σ x decreases sample size
Smaller
sample size
μ x
Sampling from Nonnormal Populations
N n
• Finite population multiplier =
N 1