Sample and Population
Sample and Population
Calculation
Objectives: sampling
To understand:
Why we use sampling
Definitions in sampling
Sampling errors
Main methods of sampling
Sample size calculation
Why do we use sampling?
Get information from large populations with:
Reduced costs
Reduced field time
Increased accuracy
Enhanced methods
Definition of sampling
Procedure by which some members
of a given population are selected as
representatives of the entire population
Definition of sampling terms
Sampling unit (element)
Subject under observation on which
information is collected
Example: children <5 years, hospital discharges,
health events
Sampling fraction
Ratio between sample size and population
size
Example: 100 out of 2000 (5%)
Definition of sampling terms
Sampling frame
List of all the sampling units from which
sample is drawn
Lists: e.g. children < 5 years of age, households,
health care units
Sampling scheme
Method of selecting sampling units from
sampling frame
Randomly, convenience sample
Survey errors
Systematic error (or bias)
Sample not typical of population
Inaccurate response (information bias)
Selection bias
Sampling error (random error)
Representativeness (validity)
A sample should accurately reflect distribution of
relevant variable in population
Person e.g. age, sex
Place e.g. urban vs. rural
Time e.g. seasonality
Representativeness essential to generalise
Ensure representativeness before starting,
Confirm once completed
Sampling and representativeness
Sample
Target Population
Sampling
Population
Target Population Sampling Population Sample
Sampling error
Random difference between sample and
population from which sample drawn
Size of error can be measured in probability
samples
Expressed as standard error
of mean, proportion
Standard error (or precision) depends upon:
Size of the sample
Distribution of character of interest in population
Sampling error
When simple random sample of size n is selected
from population of size N, standard error (s) for
population mean or proportion is:
p(1-p)
n n
Used to calculate, 95% confidence intervals
x x
s X s Z X 2 or
2
Estimated 95%
confidence interval