Random Sampling Methods
Random Sampling Methods
Its disadvantage is that it is
unusable when researchers cannot
confidently classify every member of the
population into a subgroup.
When to Use Stratified
Random Sampling
Stratified random sampling is used when
the researcher wants to highlight a
specific subgroup within the population.
This technique is useful in such
researches because it ensures the
presence of the key subgroup within the
sample.
When to Use Stratified
Random Sampling
Researchers also employ stratified random
sampling when they want to observe
existing relationships between two or more
subgroups. With a simple random sampling
technique, the researcher is not sure
whether the subgroups that he wants to
observe are represented equally or
proportionately within the sample.
When to Use Stratified
Random Sampling
With stratified sampling, the
researcher can representatively sample
even the smallest and most
inaccessible subgroups in the
population. This allows the researcher
to sample the rare extremes of the
given population.
When to Use Stratified
Random Sampling
With this technique, you have a higher
statistical precision compared to simple random
sampling. This is because the variability within
the subgroups is lower compared to the
variations when dealing with the entire
population.
Because this technique has high statistical
precision, it also means that it requires a small
sample size which can save a lot of time, money
and effort of the researchers.
Examples of Stratified
Random Sampling
For example, suppose a research team wants to determine
the GWA of college students across the Philippines. The research
team has difficulty collecting data from all 21 million college
students; it decides to take a random sample of the population by
using 4,000 students.
Now assume that the team looks at the different attributes
of the sample participants and wonders if there are any
differences in GWAs and students’ majors. Suppose it finds that
560 students are English majors, 1135 are science majors, 800 are
computer science majors, 1090 are engineering majors, and 415 are
math majors. The team wants to use a proportional stratified
random sample where the stratum of the sample is proportional
to the random sample in the population.
Examples of Stratified
Random Sampling
Assume the team researches the demographics of college students
in the Philippines and finds the percentage of what students major in: 12%
major in English, 28% major in science, 24% major in computer science,
21% major in engineering and 15% major in mathematics. Thus, five strata
are created from the stratified random sampling process.
The team then needs to confirm that the stratum of the population
is in proportion to the stratum in the sample; however, they find the
proportions are not equal. The team then needs to resample 4,000 students
from the population and randomly select 480 English, 1120 science, 960
computer science, 840 engineering, and 600 mathematics students. With
those, it has a proportionate stratified random sample of college students,
which provides a better representation of students' college majors in the
Philippines. The researchers can then highlight specific stratum, observe
the varying studies of Philippine college students and observe the varying
general weighted averages.
CLUSTER SAMPLING