GROUP 4

POPULATION AND
SAMPLING FOR
QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION

This lesson presents the steps to go through to conduct

sampling. Furthermore, as there are different types pf sampling
techniques or methods, as a student-researcher, you need to
understand the different ways to select the proper sampling method
for your study. There are two types of sampling methods: probability
sampling and non-probability sampling. Each of these methods
includes different types of techniques of sampling. Let us first discuss
probability sampling.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING

Quantitative researchers like you are often interested in

being able to make generalizations about groups larger than
their study samples. While there are certainly instances when
qualitative researchers rely on non-probability samples (e.g.,
when doing exploratory or evaluation research), quantitative
researchers tend to rely on probability sampling techniques.
The goals and techniques associated with probability samples
differ from those of non-probability samples.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING

When you conduct a research with a large group of

people, it is rarely possible to collect data from every person
in that group. Instead, you select a sample. Based on the
definition we discussed a while ago; a sample is the group of
individuals who will participate in the research. Drawing valid
conclusion from your results, you must carefully decide how
you will select a sample that is representative of the group.
Let us answer the research question: What is the prevalence of
HIV in the adult Filipino populations?

- The best response to this question will be obtained when we test

every adult Filipino for HIV. However, this is logistically difficult, time
consuming, expensive, and difficult for a single researcher – do not
forget about ethics of conducting such a study. The government
usually conducts an exercise regularly to measure certain outcomes
in the whole population – the census.
- However, as researchers, we often have limited time and resources.
Hence, we will have to select a few adults Filipino who will give
consent to become part of the study. We will test them for HIV and
present our results (as our estimation of HIV prevalence). These
selected individuals are called as “sample”.
SAMPLING METHOD
As student researcher, you should clearly and explicitly mention
the sampling method in the manuscript. The description of these helps
the reviewers and readers in assessing the validity and generalizability
of the results. Furthermore, as researchers you should acknowledge the
limitations of your sampling method and its effects on the estimated
obtained in the study.
As with most recruiting methods, sampling is the beginning tool to
determine if the person or respondent is qualified for the research
study. Most of us spontaneously undergo the process of sampling. If
some of us tried some new clothes in the market which are trendy and
stylish, other people in the group may assume that this could be the
newest trend or fashion. The basic idea of sampling is to draw
inferences about the population by selecting some of its elements.
Here are some of the Sampling terminologies:
Population – It is any complete group(i.e., people, sales territories,
stores, etc.) sharing a common set of characteristics. It can be defined
as including of people or items with the characteristic one wish to
understand and draw influences about them.
Sample – It is the subset or a part of a larger population. It is “a
smaller (but hopefully representative) collection of units from a
population used to determine truths about that population”. (Creswell,
2015).
Selecting the appropriate sample for your study:
The method by which you select the sample is the sampling method.
Again, there are two essential types of sampling methods: (1) Probability
Sampling which is based on chance events (such as random numbers,
flipping a coin etc.): and (2) Non-probability Sampling which is based on
researcher’s choice, population that is accessible and available.
Random Sampling method (such as simple random sample or
stratified random sample) is a form of probability sampling. It is
important to understand the different sampling methods used in
research. The method used should be mentioned clearly in the
research paper. As researcher, you should not misinterpret the
sampling method in the manuscript such as using the term “random
sample” when the researcher has used convenience sample. The
sampling method will depend on the research question.
Selecting the appropriate sample for your study:

For instance, the researcher may want to understand an

issue in greater detail for one population rather than worry
about teen aged pregnancy of these results. In such scenario,
the researcher may use random sampling for this study.
SAMPLING and SAMPLING DESIGN

It is a statistical procedure that is concerned with the

selection of certain individual observation from the target
population. It helps in making statistical inferences about the
population. Sampling design refers to the technique or
procedure used by the researcher for selecting items as
samples from the population or universe.
Designing the sample calls for three decisions:

• Who will be surveyed? (the sample)

• How many people will be surveyed? (sample size)
• How should the sample be chosen? ( sampling)
TYPES OF SAMPLES FOR QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Probability samples are a type of sample wherein members of the population have
equal chance to be selected as subject in the research.
Subtypes of probability samples:
• Simple Random sample. Every member of the population has a known and equal
chance of being selected.
• Stratified Random sample. Population is divided into mutually exclusive groups such
as age groups and random samples are drawn from each group.
• Cluster (area) sample. The population is divided into mutually exclusive groups such
as blocks, and the researcher draws a sample of the group to interview.
• Systematic sampling is where every case after a random selection is selected. For
example, if surveying a sample of consumers, every fifth consumer may be selected
from your sample. The advantage of this sampling technique is its simplicity.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
TECHNIQUES
GROUP 4

END OF PRESENTATION