S W 313 Lecture 8: Sampling Methods
Document Summary
In quantitative research, sampling is the process of selecting observations from a subset of a population for purposes of making inferences about the nature of the total population: probability sampling, nonprobability sampling. The key to this process is random selection (not haphazard), where each element has an equal change of selection independent of any other event in the selection process. Population theoretically specified aggregation of study elements. Study population aggregation of elements from which the sample is actually selected. Element a sampling unit about which information is collected and that provides basis for analysis. Parameter the summary description of a variable in a population. Sampling frame the list of elements from which a sample is selected. Non-response bias if a substantial proportion of randomly selected people choose not to participate in the study, the ultimate sample is nor really random and might not be representative of the population. Each element in sampling frame is assigned a number.
