MAT 089: Biostatistics

Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

Lesson title: Methods of Sampling from Population Materials:

Activity Sheet, Calculator
Lesson Objectives: At the end of this session, I will be able to: References:
1. Identify, compare and contrast the different sampling J. Susan Milton and Jessie C. Arnold,
Introduction to Probability and Statistics:
techniques; and Principles and Applications for Engineering
2. Enumerate, illustrate, and apply the different sampling and the Computing Sciences, 4th Ed.,
McGraw-Hill, 2004
techniques.
https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/types-of-
variables/

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A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
INTRODUCTION

One of the most important parts of the research work that needs preparation and planning
in choosing the right and appropriate sampling method.

There are two types of sampling techniques the probability sampling and non-probability
sampling. The different between them is that in probability sampling every unit has a chance’ of
being selected, and that chance can be quantified. This is not true for non-probability sampling,
here every item in a population does not have an equal chance of being selected. Probability
sampling involves the selection of a sample from a population, based on the principle of
randomization or chance, it is also more complex, more time-consuming and usually more costly
than non-probability sampling.

B. MAIN LESSON
Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)

Methods of Sampling from Population

*Sampling is the process of getting a representative fraction of a population.
*Analysis of the sample gives an idea of the population.

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 MAT 089: Biostatistics
Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

Types of Probability Sampling

1. Simple random sampling is analogous to putting everyone's name into a hat and drawing
out several names. Each element in the population has an equal chance of occurring. While
this is the preferred way of sampling, it is often difficult to do. It requires that a complete list of
every element in the population be obtained.
o To prevent possibility of a bias or erroneous inference, random sampling is commonly
recommended. Under the concept of randomness, each member of the population has an
equal chance to be included in the sample.
o Lottery or fishbowl technique
n
o Probability of being is selected ( ) x 100
N

2. Systematic random sampling is easier to do than random sampling. In systematic sampling,

the list of elements is "counted off". That is, every kth element is taken. This is similar to lining
everyone up and numbering off "1,2,3,4; 1,2,3,4; 1,2,3,4; etc".
When done numbering, all people numbered 4 would be used.
◦ For example, if every 10th member is selected in the population, the samples would consist of
the 10th, 20th, 30th and so on.
◦ Total population ÷ sample size = sampling interval
N÷n=K
 10,000 ÷ 500 = 20 or every 20th element after the selected 1st element

3. Stratified sampling also divides the population into groups called strata. However, this time
it is by some characteristic, not geographically. For instance, the population might be
separated into males and females. A sample is taken from each of these strata using either
random, systematic, or convenience sampling.

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 MAT 089: Biostatistics
Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

◦ A proportionate number from each class or strata must be selected in order to eliminate bias.
◦ To get the right number of samples by using the Slovine’s formula
n = N / (1 + Ne2); e = margin of error (1% to 10%)

4. Cluster sampling is accomplished by dividing the population into groups -- usually

geographically. These groups are called clusters or blocks. The clusters are randomly
selected, and each element in the selected clusters are used.
• Cluster is used when the members of a population is too large. This method is sometimes
referred to as multistage sampling.

Types of Non-Probability Sampling

1. Convenience sampling is perhaps the easiest method of sampling, because participants are
selected based on availability and willingness to take part. Useful results can be obtained, but
the results are prone to significant bias, because those who volunteer to take part may be
different from those who choose not to (volunteer bias), and the sample may not be
representative of other characteristics, such as age or sex. Note: volunteer bias is a risk of all
non-probability sampling methods.

2. Quota sampling. This method of sampling is often used by market researchers. Interviewers
are given a quota of subjects of a specified type to attempt to recruit. For example, an
interviewer might be told to go out and select 20 adult men, 20 adult women, 10 teenage girls
and 10 teenage boys so that they could interview them about their television viewing. Ideally
the quotas chosen would proportionally represent the characteristics of the underlying
population.

3. Judgement (or Purposive) Sampling. Also known as selective, or subjective, sampling, this
technique relies on the judgement of the researcher when choosing who to ask to participate.
Researchers may implicitly thus choose a “representative” sample to suit their needs, or
specifically approach individuals with certain characteristics. This approach is often used by the
media when canvassing the public for opinions and in qualitative research.

4. Snowball sampling. This method is commonly used in social sciences when investigating
hard-to-reach groups. Existing subjects are asked to nominate further subjects known to them, so the
sample increases in size like a rolling snowball. For example, when carrying out a survey of risk behaviours
amongst intravenous drug users, participants may be asked to nominate other users to be interviewed.
Snowball sampling can be effective when a sampling frame is difficult to identify. However, by selecting
friends and acquaintances of subjects already investigated, there is a significant risk of selection bias
(choosing a large number of people with similar characteristics or views to the initial individual identified).

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 MAT 089: Biostatistics
Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

Bias in sampling. There are five important potential sources of bias that should be
considered when selecting a sample, irrespective of the method used. Sampling bias may be
introduced when:

1. Any pre-agreed sampling rules are deviated from

2. People in hard-to-reach groups are omitted
3. Selected individuals are replaced with others, for example if they are difficult to contact
4. There are low response rates
5. An out-of-date list is used as the sample frame (for example, if it excludes people who have
recently moved to an area)

Activity 3: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

Exercise No 1: What type of sampling is this?

1. Each student at a school has a student identification number. Counselors have a computer
generate 50 random identification numbers and those students are asked to take a survey.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. A restaurant leaves comment cards on all of its tables and encourages customers to participate
in a brief survey to learn about their overall experience.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise No 2: Do any of the following use simple random sampling? Provide a brief explanation of how
each example uses this sampling method or not.
1. bingo game.
2. Canadian election.

3. Census.
Exercise No 3: Imagine that a local clothing manufacturer has 2,700 employees. The personnel
manager decides to ask the employees for suggestions on how to improve their workplace. It would take
too long to survey everyone, so the manager chooses to systematically sample 300 of the employees.
1. What would be the sampling interval?
2. If the number 8 was your first randomly drawn number, what would be the first 5 numbers of
your sample?

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 MAT 089: Biostatistics
Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

Activity 3: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Identify the type of sampling to be used in each of the following.

1. Twenty participants were chosen in random from 1000 participants in the hypertension
treatment program.
2. Suppose we wish to conduct a clinical trial of a new treatment for diabetics. A small study of
this type will be conducted on 10 patients. Five patients will be chosen to the new therapy.
3. Every seventh customer entering a shopping mall asked to select his or he favorite store.
4. Mail carriers of a large city are divided into four groups according to gender and according to
whether they walk or ride on their route. Then 10 are selected from each group and
interviewed to determine whether they have been bitten by a dog.
5. Five taxpayers are randomly selected from each barangay.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)

Congratulations for finishing this module! Shade the number of the module that you finished.

1. Write 1 important thing you learned:

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Write 2 questions you have about the lesson:

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Write 3 suggestions you have about the session:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 MAT 089: Biostatistics
Student Activity Sheet #4

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ______________________________________ Date: _______________

FAQs

Complete the following statement with the best answers.

1. What are the four basic probability sampling methods?
-Simple Random sampling, Systematic Random Sampling, Stratified and Cluster Sampling
2. What sampling technique used to divide the population into groups that called strata?
-Stratified Sampling
3. What is snowball sampling?
-Snowball sampling is where research participants recruit other participants for a test or study. It
is used where potential participants are hard to find. It’s called snowball sampling because (in
theory) once you have the ball rolling, it picks up more “snow” along the way and becomes larger
and larger. Example, HIV positive as a sample.
4. What is the most common sampling technique in psychological research?
- The most commonly used sampling method in psychological research is probably: Convenience
sampling or purposive

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
Answers to Skill-Building Exercises
Exercise No.1:
1. Quota Sampling 2. Simple Random Sampling
Exercise No. 2: The following describes the type of sampling method used in activity 3.
1. A bingo game uses the simple random sampling method. All the numbers (total population)
are put into a barrel and the required number (sample) are drawn at random. Each item has
an equal chance of selection.
2. A Canadian election is an example of non-random sampling (volunteer sampling) because
each member of the population (18 years or older) can participate if they so desire.
3. A census does not employ simple random sampling because every member of the target
population must be included.
Exercise No. 3: Given the sample size of 300 survey participants from a population of
2,700 employees,
1. the sampling interval would be nine (2,700 ÷ 300 = 9).
2. the first 5 numbers of the sample would be 8, 17, 26, 35 and 44.

Answers to Checking for Understanding

1. Simple random Sampling 2. Purposive Sampling
3. Systematics Random Sampling 4. Stratified Sampling
5. Cluster Sampling
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