Sampling

Sampling includes issues and approaches for who takes the survey and how representative the actual respondents are to the intended population.

Major issues for sampling

  • Sample frame
  • Chance error
  • Non-response bias

Fowler's (ch. 3) considerations

  • Comprehensiveness
  • Calculability of selection probability
  • Efficiency

Variations

  • Simple random sampling
  • Multiframe sampling
  • Stratified or multi-state sampling
  • Convenience sample

Discussion questions

  • What are the two main factors that predict chance error?
  • What are advantages to randomly selecting from a sample frame?
  • What are strategies for minimizing error for each of the major issues?
  • What are possible sampling strategies for these scenarios?
    • Students taking an introductory programming course at DePaul (to gauge sense of belonging)
    • Intranet users at a company