Definition of 'Random Sampling'

Definition: Random sampling is a part of the sampling technique in which each sample

has an equal probability of being chosen. A sample chosen randomly is meant to be an
unbiased representation of the total population. If for some reasons, the sample does
not represent the population, the variation is called a sampling error.

Description: Random sampling is one of the simplest forms of collecting data from the
total population. Under random sampling, each member of the subset carries an equal
opportunity of being chosen as a part of the sampling process. For example, the total
workforce in organisations is 300 and to conduct a survey, a sample group of 30
employees is selected to do the survey. In this case, the population is the total number
of employees in the company and the sample group of 30 employees is the sample.
Each member of the workforce has an equal opportunity of being chosen because all
the employees which were chosen to be part of the survey were selected randomly. But,
there is always a possibility that the group or the sample does not represent the
population as a whole, in that case, any random variation is termed as a sampling error.

An unbiased random sample is important for drawing conclusions. For example when
we took out the sample of 30 employees from the total population of 300 employees,
there is always a possibility that a researcher might end up picking over 25 men even if
the population consists of 200 men and 100 women. Hence, some variations when
drawing results can come up, which is known as a sampling error. One of the
disadvantages of random sampling is the fact that it requires a complete list of
population. For example, if a company wants to carry out a survey and intends to deploy
random sampling, in that case, there should be total number of employees and there is
a possibility that all the employees are spread across different regions which make the
process of survey little difficult.

Random Sampling
Random sampling is a type of probability sampling where everyone in the entire target
population has an equal chance of being selected.
This is similar to the national lottery. If the “population” is everyone who has bought a
lottery ticket, then each person has an equal chance of winning the lottery (assuming
they all have one ticket each).
Random samples require a way of naming or numbering the target population and then
using some type of raffle method to choose those to make up the sample. Random
samples are the best method of selecting your sample from the population of interest.

 The advantages are that your sample should represent the target population and
eliminate sampling bias.
 The disadvantage is that it is very difficult to achieve (i.e. time, effort and money).

How to perform simple random sampling

There are 4 key steps to select a simple random sample.

Step 1: Define the population

Start by deciding on the population that you want to study.

It’s important to ensure that you have access to every individual member of the
population, so that you can collect data from all those who are selected for the sample.
Example: PopulationIn the American Community Survey, the population is all 128 million households
who live in the United States (including households made up of citizens and non-citizens alike).

Step 2: Decide on the sample size

Next, you need to decide how large your sample size will be. Although larger samples
provide more statistical certainty, they also cost more and require far more work.

There are several potential ways to decide upon the size of your sample, but one of the
simplest involves using a formula with your desired confidence interval and confidence
level, estimated size of the population you are working with, and the standard
deviation of whatever you want to measure in your population.

The most common confidence interval and levels used are 0.05 and 0.95, respectively.
Since you may not know the standard deviation of the population you are studying, you
should choose a number high enough to account for a variety of possibilities (such as
0.5).

You can then use a sample size calculator to estimate the necessary sample size.

Example: Sample sizeThe ACS follows 3.5 million households each year. This is a small fraction of the
overall population of 128 million households, but it is a large enough sample size to gather detailed data
on all geographical regions and demographic groups in the United States, including those usually
underrepresented in surveys.

Step 3: Randomly select your sample

This can be done in one of two ways: the lottery or random number method.

In the lottery method, you choose the sample at random by “drawing from a hat” or by
using a computer program that will simulate the same action.

In the random number method, you assign every individual a number. By using

a random number generator or random number tables, you then randomly pick a subset
of the population. You can also use the random number function (RAND) in Microsoft
Excel to generate random numbers.

Example: Random selectionThe Census Bureau randomly selects addresses of 295,000 households
monthly (or 3.5 million per year). Each address has approximately a 1-in-480 chance of being selected.

Step 4: Collect data from your sample

Finally, you should collect data from your sample.

To ensure the validity of your findings, you need to make sure every individual selected
actually participates in your study. If some drop out or do not participate for reasons
associated with the question that you’re studying, this could bias your findings.
For example, if young participants are systematically less likely to participate in your
study, your findings might not be valid due to the underrepresentation of this group.

Example: Data collectionThe Census Bureau first sends a letter to ask the respondents to fill the survey
out online. If occupants of an address do not respond, the Bureau calls the home telephone number. If
all else fails, a representative visits the address in person.

Through this variety of methods, the officials collecting data for the ACS manage to receive
responses from 95% of those randomly selected, a high response rate that supports the validity of
their results.

Stratified Sampling
The researcher identifies the different types of people that make up the target
population and works out the proportions needed for the sample to be representative.
A list is made of each variable (e.g. IQ, gender etc.) which might have an effect on the
research. For example, if we are interested in the money spent on books by
undergraduates, then the main subject studied may be an important variable.
For example, students studying English Literature may spend more money on books
than engineering students so if we use a very large percentage of English students or
engineering students then our results will not be accurate.
We have to work out the relative percentage of each group at a university e.g.
Engineering 10%, Social Sciences 15%, English 20%, Sciences 25%, Languages 10%,
Law 5%, Medicine 15% The sample must then contain all these groups in the same
proportion as in the target population (university students).

 The disadvantage of stratified samplingis that gathering such a sample would be

extremely time consuming and difficult to do. This method is rarely used in
Psychology.
 However, the advantage is that the sample should be highly representative of the
target population and therefore we can generalize from the results obtained.

How to use stratified sampling

Published on September 18, 2020 by Lauren Thomas. Revised on October 12, 2020.

In a stratified sample, researchers divide a population into homogeneous subpopulations

called strata (the plural of stratum)  based on specific characteristics (e.g., race, gender, location,
etc.). Every member of the population should be in exactly one stratum.
Each stratum is then sampled using another probability sampling method, such as cluster or
simple random sampling, allowing researchers to estimate statistical measures for each sub-
population.

Researchers rely on stratified sampling when a population’s characteristics are diverse and they
want to ensure that every characteristic is properly represented in the sample.

Chapter 10

Two Stage Sampling (Subsampling)

In cluster sampling, all the elements in the selected clusters are surveyed. Moreover, the efficiency in

cluster sampling depends on the size of the cluster. As the size increases, the efficiency decreases. It

suggests that higher precision can be attained by distributing a given number of elements over a large

number of clusters and then by taking a small number of clusters and enumerating all elements within

them. This is achieved in subsampling.

In subsampling

- divide the population into clusters.

- Select a sample of clusters [first stage}

- From each of the selected cluster, select a sample of the specified number of elements [second

stage]

The clusters which form the units of sampling at the first stage are called the first stage units and the

units or group of units within clusters which form the unit of clusters are called the second stage units or

subunits.

The procedure is generalized to three or more stages and is then termed as multistage sampling.

For example, in a crop survey

- villages are the first stage units,

- fields within the villages are the second stage units and

- plots within the fields are the third stage units.

In another example, to obtain a sample of fishes from a commercial fishery

- first, take a sample of boats and

- then take a sample of fishes from each selected boat.