Stella Matutina Academy of Bukidnon, Inc.

West Kibawe, Kibawe Bukidnon

S.Y 2024-2025
Practical Research 2
November 18-22, 2024
Second Semester

Activity Number: 2.6

I- Lesson Title: SAMPLING PROCEDURES

A. CONCEPT NOTES
SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Basic Concept
Sampling means choosing from a large population the respondents or subjects to answer your
research questions. The entire population is involved but for your research study, you choose
only a part of the whole. The word population is a technical term in research which means a big
group of people from where you choose the sample or the chosen set of people to represent the
population. Sampling frame, on the other hand, is the list of the members of the population to
which you want to generalize or apply your findings about the sample, and sampling unit is the
term referring to every individual in the population. The sampling, as well as the research results,
is expected to speak about the entire population. Unless this does not refer to the population, in
general, the sample- selection procedure has no scientific value. (Emmel 2013; Lapan 2013

Factors Affecting Sample Selection

In choosing your respondents, you do not just listen to the dictates of your own mind but also to
other factors such as the following (Babbie 2013; Edward 2013; Tuckman & Engel 2012):

1. Sample Size
How big should the sample be? Some researchers base their decision on their own experience
and on research studies they have already read. But the best way to guide you in determining the
right sample size is the representativeness of the sample with respect to the population. See to it
that the sample truly represents the entire population from where the sample came. The
representativeness or accuracy of a sample size is really hard to determine. However, using the
right sampling technique such as a randomized one, your chances of getting a sample reflecting
95% distribution of the population or of a sample representing the whole population is highly
probable. This acceptable level of probability of the representativeness of the sample is called
confidence level or 0.05 level. This theory of probability is true only for randomly selected
respondents, not for any non-probability type of sampling.
2. Sampling Technique
Sampling techniques fall under two categories: probability sampling and non-probability
sampling. The first one uses a random selection; the second, a purposive or controlled selection.
Probability sampling that gives all population members equal opportunity to be chosen as people
to constitute the sample is a precise way of sampling. Based on pure chance, it is unbiased or an
accurate manner of selecting the right people to represent the population. Bias is the leading
factor in choosing your respondents. This is one of the causes of sampling errors. The other errors
in sampling are attributed to your procedure in sampling.
3. Heterogeneity of Population
Heterogeneous population is composed of individuals with varied abilities. There is a wide
variation among the people composing the population. If it is a homogeneous population where
lots of uniformity in abilities exist among population members, a sample of one will do. But for a
heterogeneous group, a sampling technique that will widely spread the choosing of a large
sample among all members of the population is necessary.
4. Statistical Techniques
The accuracy of the sample depends also on how precise or accurate your methods are in
calculating the numbers used in measuring the chosen samples or in giving a certain value to
each of them. Any error in your use of any statistical method or computing numbers representing
the selected subjects will turn in unfounded results.
5. Time and Cost
Choosing samples makes you deal with one big whole population, with each member of this large
group needing your attention, time and effort, let alone the amount of money you will fork out for
the materials you will need in making the sampling frame. Hence, considering all these things,
your sample selection makes you spend some of your time deliberating or mulling over several
factors affecting or influencing your sample selection.

Sampling Methods
The sampling methods are of two groups which are as follows (Tuckman 2012; Emmel 2013; De
Vaus 2013; Picardie 2014):
1. Probability Sampling
This is a sampling method that makes you base your selection of respondents on pure chance. In
this case, everybody in the population participates. All are given equal opportunity or chance to
form the sample that can reflect the characteristics of the whole population from where such
sample was drawn. The following are the different probability sampling techniques:
a. Simple-random sampling – choosing of respondents based on pure chance
b. Systematic sampling – picking out from the list every 5 th or every 8th member listed in the
sampling frame until the completion of the desired total number of respondents
c. Stratified sampling – choosing a sample that will later on be subdivided into strata, sub-
groups, or sub-samples during the stage of the data analysis
d. Cluster sampling – selecting respondents in clusters, rather than in separate individuals such
as choosing 5 classes of 40 students each from a whole population of 5,000 students

Ensuring a bias-free selection of subjects, these probability sampling techniques are considered
by many as more capable than the non-probability sampling techniques in coming out with the
accurate or exact samples to give pieces of information about the population.

2. Non-probability Sampling
The sampling techniques included in this category are not chosen randomly, but purposefully. Not
randomized, they are susceptible to bias. Unlike the probability sampling techniques that exclude
the researcher’s judgment, the non-probability sampling techniques succumb to the control, likes,
or wishes of the researcher and to restrictions imposed by the researcher on the sampling
procedure. The following are the non-probability sampling techniques:
a. Quota sampling – choosing specific samples that you know correspond to the population in
terms of one, two, or more characteristics
b. Voluntary sampling – selecting people who are very much willing to participate as
respondents in the research project
c. Purposive sampling – choosing respondents whom you have judged as people with good
background knowledge or with great enthusiasm about the research
d. Availability sampling – picking out people who are easy to find or locate and willing to
establish contact with you
e. Snowball sampling – selecting samples from several alternative samples like drug
dependents, human traffickers, street children, and other wayward and homeless people whose
dwelling places are not easily located for they are like nomads moving from place to place

Random Sampling vis-à-vis Statistical Methods

The most preferred sampling technique in qualitative or quantitative research is random
sampling. However, this kind of probability sampling requires the use of statistical method in
measuring the sample. Three probability sampling techniques: simple random, stratified, and
systematic depend greatly on statistics for sample accuracy. The use of statistics does not only
prevent you from favoring any side of a thing or situation involved in the research but also proves
the accuracy or precision of your sampling procedure. Contributing to the accuracy of sampling
through the use of statistical methods in stratified sampling is your adherence to the following
steps of this unbiased sampling technique (Suter 2012; Emmel 2013; Corti 2014):
1. Decide on the size of the sample.
2. Divide the sample into sub-sets or sub-samples, with the subsamples having the same
aggregate number as that of the sample they came from.
3. Select the appropriate sub-sample randomly from each sub-group or stratum.
4. Put together the sub-sample results to get the total number of the overall sample.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Five Basic Sampling Techniques

Sampling Advantages Disadvantages

Techniques
Random Sampling The most accurate theoretically, Unavailable list of the entire
influenced only by chance population sometimes or
prevention of random sampling
by practical considerations
Stratified Sampling Assures a large sample to Can be biased if strata are given
subdivide on important variables; false weights, unless the
needed when population is too weighting procedure is used for
large to list; can be combined overall analysis
with
other techniques
Systematic Sampling Similar to random sampling; Sometimes permits bias
often easier than random
 sampling
Cluster Sampling Easy to collect data on the Prone to bias when the number is
subject small
Quota Sampling Available when random sampling Presence of bias not controlled
is impossible quick to do by the quota system

SAMPLE ACTIVITY: Classification

Directions: In the boxes provided, classify the following expressions based on a certain criterion
or
factor. Write the basis for each class.

sampling technique availability sampling heterogeneous group

stratified sampling snowball sampling sample size
quota sampling cluster sampling simple random sampling
systematic sampling sampling unit voluntary sampling
time and cost purposive sampling simple random sampling
population sample statistics

Class A Class B Class C

Basis: __________________ Basis: _____________________ Basis:

_____________________