Stratified Sampling: What Is Non-Probability Sampling?

Stratified Sampling
Stratified sampling refers to a type of sampling method. With stratified sampling, the
researcher divides the population into separate groups, called strata. Then, a probability
sampling (often a simple random sample) is drawn from each group.
Stratified sampling has several advantages over simple random sampling. For example,
using stratified sampling, it may be possible to reduce the sample size required to
achieve a given precision. Or it may be possible to increase the precision with the same
sample size.
Sampling method
A sampling method is a procedure for selecting sample members from a population.
What is Non-Probability Sampling?

Non-probability sampling is a sampling technique where the odds of any member being
selected for a sample cannot be calculated. It’s the opposite of probability sampling,
where you can calculate the odds. In addition, probability sampling involves random
selection, while non-probability sampling does not–it relies on the subjective
judgment of the researcher.
The odds do not have to be equal for a method to be considered probability sampling.
For example, one person could have a 10% chance of being selected and another
person could have a 50% chance of being selected. It’s non-probability sampling when
you can’t calculate the odds at all.
Advantage of non- probability sampling

A major advantage with non-probability sampling is that — compared to probability
sampling — it’s very cost- and time-effective. It’s also easy to use and can also be used
when it’s impossible to conduct probability sampling (e.g. when you have a very small
population to work with).
Disadvantages of non-probability sampling

One major disadvantage of non-probability sampling is that it’s impossible to know how
well you are representing the population. Plus, you can’t calculate confidence
intervals and margins of error. This is the major reason why, if at all possible, you
should consider probability sampling methods first.
TYPES Non- probability sampling
 Convenience Sampling: as the name suggests, this involves collecting a sample
from somewhere convenient to you: the mall, your local school, your church.
Sometimes called accidental sampling, opportunity sampling or grab sampling.
 Haphazard Sampling: where a researcher chooses items haphazardly, trying to
simulate randomness. However, the result may not be random at all and is often
tainted by selection bias.
 Purposive Sampling: where the researcher chooses a sample based on their
knowledge about the population and the study itself. The study participants are
chosen based on the study’s purpose. There are several types of purposive
sampling. For a full list, advantages and disadvantages of the method, see the
article: Purposive Sampling.
 Expert Sampling: in this method, the researcher draws the sample from a list of
experts in the field.
 Heterogeneity Sampling / Diversity Sampling: a type of sampling where you
deliberately choose members so that all views are represented. However, those
views may or may not be represented proportionally.
 Modal Instance Sampling: The most “typical” members are chosen from a set.
 Quota Sampling: where the groups (i.e. men and women) in the sample are
proportional to the groups in the population.
 Snowball Sampling: where research participants recruit other members for the
study. This method is particularly useful when participants might be hard to find. For
example, a study on working prostitutes or current heroin users.
Bias survey sampling

In survey sampling, bias refers to the tendency of a sample statistic to systematically
over- or under-estimate a population parameter
Bias Due to Unrepresentative Sample
A good sample is representative. This means that each sample point represents the
attributes of a known number of population elements.
Bias often occurs when the survey sample does not accurately represent the
population. The bias that results from an unrepresentative sample is called selection
bias. Some common examples of selection bias are described below.
 Undercoverage. Under coverage occurs when some members of the population

are inadequately represented in the sample. A classic example of under
coverage is the Literary Digest voter survey, which predicted that Alfred Landon
would beat Franklin Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election. The survey
sample suffered from undercoverage of low-income voters, who tended to be
Democrats.
How did this happen? The survey relied on a convenience sample, drawn from
telephone directories and car registration lists. In 1936, people who owned cars
and telephones tended to be more affluent. Undercoverage is often a problem
with convenience samples.
 Nonresponse bias. Sometimes, individuals chosen for the sample are unwilling
or unable to participate in the survey. Nonresponse bias is the bias that results
when respondents differ in meaningful ways from nonrespondents. The Literary
Digest survey illustrates this problem. Respondents tended to be Landon
supporters; and nonrespondents, Roosevelt supporters. Since only 25% of the
sampled voters actually completed the mail-in survey, survey results
overestimated voter support for Alfred Landon.
The Literary Digest experience illustrates a common problem with mail surveys.
Response rate is often low, making mail surveys vulnerable to nonresponse bias.
Voluntary response bias. Voluntary response bias occurs when sample

members are self-selected volunteers, as in voluntary samples. An example
would be call-in radio shows that solicit audience participation in surveys on
controversial topics (abortion, affirmative action, gun control, etc.). The resulting
sample tends to overrepresent individuals who have strong opinions .
Probability sampling methods

A probability sampling method is any method of sampling that utilizes some form
of random selection. In order to have a random selection method, you must set up some
process or procedure that assures that the different units in your population have equal
probabilities of being chosen. Humans have long practiced various forms of random
selection, such as picking a name out of a hat, or choosing the short straw. These days,
we tend to use computers as the mechanism for generating random numbers as the
basis for random selection.
Simple random sampling
the simplest form of random sampling is called simple random sampling. Pretty tricky,
huh? Here's the quick description of simple random sampling
 Objective: To select n units out of N such that each NCn has an equal chance of
being selected.
 Procedure: Use a table of random numbers, a computer random number
generator, or a mechanical device to select the sample.
A somewhat stilted, if accurate, definition. Let's see if we can make it a little

more real. How do we select a simple random sample? Let's assume that we are
doing some research with a small service agency that wishes to assess clients'
views of quality of service over the past year. First, we have to get the sampling
frame organized. To accomplish this, we'll go through agency records to identify
every client over the past 12 months. If we're lucky, the agency has good
accurate computerized records and can quickly produce such a list. Then, we
have to actually draw the sample. Decide on the number of clients you would like
to have in the final sample. For the sake of the example, let's say you want to
select 100 clients to survey and that there were 1000 clients over the past 12
months. Then, the sampling fraction is f = n/N = 100/1000 = .10 or 10%. Now, to
actually draw the sample, you have several options. You could print off the list of
1000 clients, tear then into separate strips, put the strips in a hat, mix them up
real good, close your eyes and pull out the first 100. But this mechanical
procedure would be tedious and the quality of the sample would depend on how
thoroughly you mixed them up and how randomly you reached in. Perhaps a
better procedure would be to use the kind of ball machine that is popular with
many of the state lotteries. You would need three sets of balls numbered 0 to 9,
one set for each of the digits from 000 to 999 (if we select 000 we'll call that
1000). Number the list of names from 1 to 1000 and then use the ball machine to
select the three digits that selects each person. The obvious disadvantage here
is that you need to get the ball machines. (Where do they make those things,
anyway? Is there a ball machine industry?).
Neither of these mechanical procedures is very feasible and, with the
development of inexpensive computers there is a much easier way.
Here's a simple procedure that's especially useful if you have the names
of the clients already on the computer. Many computer programs can
generate a series of random numbers. Let's assume you can copy and
paste the list of client names into a column in an EXCEL spreadsheet.
Then, in the column right next to it paste the function =RAND() which is
EXCEL's way of putting a random number between 0 and 1 in the cells.
Then, sort both columns -- the list of names and the random number --
by the random numbers. This rearranges the list in random order from
the lowest to the highest random number. Then, all you have to do is
take the first hundred names in this sorted list. pretty simple. You could
probably accomplish the whole thing in under a minute.
Simple random sampling is simple to accomplish and is easy to explain

to others. Because simple random sampling is a fair way to select a
sample, it is reasonable to generalize the results from the sample back
to the population. Simple random sampling is not the most statistically
efficient method of sampling and you may, just because of the luck of the
draw, not get good representation of subgroups in a population. To deal
with these issues, we have to turn to other sampling methods.

Stratified Sampling: What Is Non-Probability Sampling?

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Stratified Sampling

A sampling method is a procedure for selecting sample members from a population.

What is Non-Probability Sampling?

Advantage of non- probability sampling

Disadvantages of non-probability sampling

Bias survey sampling

Bias Due to Unrepresentative Sample

 Undercoverage. Under coverage occurs when some members of the population

Voluntary response bias. Voluntary response bias occurs when sample

Probability sampling methods

A somewhat stilted, if accurate, definition. Let's see if we can make it a little

Simple random sampling is simple to accomplish and is easy to explain

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