Types Of Research Sampling Methods

What are the types of research sampling methods and how to use them?

If you are a researcher, understanding the types of research sampling methods is extremely important because – as a researcher – you could have already figured out that studying an entire demographic of your interest is quite difficult, if not impossible. The only way to get the most out of your research is learning the various types of research sampling methods and using them to your favour. For example, types of research sampling methods will cut down the research costs when studying an entire population.

Types of research sampling methods – the basics

* A sample is nothing but the subset of population sued for studies.

* Typically, samples are used on larger populations to learn more about the inferences of each one.

* The different types of research sampling methods determine the outcome of each research performed.

Non-probability sampling

When you learn about the types of research sampling methods, you can’t start anywhere other than non-probability sampling techniques.

* Non-probability sampling is very popular as one of the best types of research sampling methods because it gathers samples from population without giving equal chances of being selected.

* The research is always conducted on available samples. For example, researchers gather data from people walking on a street or shopping mall.

Different types of research sampling methods under non-probability sampling

Non-probability sampling has various types of research sampling methods under the belt. They are;

* Purposive Sample Or Judgemental Sample – as the name suggest the samples are selected based on the knowledge about a population.

* Snowball Sample – snowball samples are used when people of a particular demograph is hard to be gathered for a study. The researcher sources available resources in this situation and tries to find more people through the resources they could find.

Types of research sampling methods – probability sampling

Probability sampling got its name from the way samples are gathered. The samples are carefully gathered and individuals in a group have equal chances of getting selected.

* Simple random sample – simple random sample is one of the types of research sampling methods used in probability research. They collect samples from a random population by assigning a number to each individual. For example, you generate a number from 1 to 5,000 and then choose 100 people based on a list of random numbers between 1 and 5,000.

* Systematic Sample – the systematic sample uses a specific selection approach. For example every 10th student from a classroom of an entire school is selected for the research.

* Stratfied Sample – startfied sample uses appropriate numbers. For example a researcher performing a survey in supermarket chooses an equal number of store managers, deliverymen, cashiers and accountants.

These are the different types of research sampling methods that you need to know before considering professional research because your knowledge on the types of research sampling methods will give you a definitive advantage in reaching constructive conclusions and get the most out of your research.

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