Sampling methods
January 30th, 2023
Name the 4 types of sampling. Explain each one and give an example of the type of research you would use with each sampling method.
Answer:
The 4 types of sampling are:
- Simple Random Sampling: every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected in this method. Example: you could use simple random sampling to study the political views of a population by randomly selecting individuals to participate in a survey.
- Stratified Sampling: the population is divided into subgroups (strata) and then randomly selecting individuals from each subgroup. Example: you could use stratified sampling to study the spending habits of different income levels by dividing the population into income brackets and then selecting a sample from each bracket.
- Cluster Sampling: the population is divided into groups (clusters) and then selecting a sample of the groups. Example: you could use cluster sampling to study the opinions of school teachers by dividing schools into clusters and then selecting a sample of schools to survey the teachers from.
- Systematic Sampling: individuals are selected from a population in a regular pattern (e.g. every 5th individual). Example: you could use systematic sampling to study the opinions of customers visiting a store by selecting every 10th customer to participate in a survey.