Sampling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sampling - Assignment Example Probability techniques are based on the principle that each member of the population has an equal chance of being included into the study sample. These measures improve the likelihood that the chosen sample will be representative of all the relevant trends seen in the population. Thus, there is a greater chance that the conclusions drawn from the data would be truly applicable to the entire population (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008). For a majority of studies, probability sampling techniques help in providing more valuable data, but with some research questions, non-probability techniques are more effecting in gathering the requisite sample. Some of the probability techniques include Simple Random sampling, Systematic Random Sampling, Stratified Random Sampling, and Probability Cluster Sampling (Christensen, Johnson & Turner, 2010). On the other hand, some types of Non-Probability sampling techniques include Availability Sampling, Purposive Sampling and Non-Probability Cluster Sampling (Christensen, Johnson & Turner, 2010). Regardless of all the effort taken to draw a representative sample from the population, there is always a chance that the sample chosen is not really representative. This would mean that there is a chance that the results of the study may not be representative of the population, and extrapolating them would be erroneous. When the chosen sample is not really representative of the population, it is due to Sampling Error (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008). Typically, Probability techniques help in reducing the chance of Sampling Error by ensuring that each member of the population has the same likelihood of being chosen. Thus, when studying large and heterogeneous populations, Probability techniques are considered to be more valuable in drawing a representative sample (Christensen, Johnson & Turner, 2010). Sampling error can