Sometimes it is possible to obtain sufficiently accurate results by studying a part/a segment of the population. Thus the few items are selected from the population in such a way that they are the representative of the universe and these representatives in research are called as ‘sample’. The process of selecting the representatives from the population is called ‘sampling’. Thus sampling is simply the process of learning about population on the basis of sample drawn from it. Under this method a small group of universe is taken as the representative of the whole mass and the results are drawn. It is the method to make social/business investigation practicable and easy.… Read the rest
Research Methodology
Sample Design
A sample design is a definite plan for obtaining a sample from a given population. It refers to the technique or the procedure the researcher would adopt in selecting items for the sample. Sample design also leads to a procedure to tell the number of items to be included in the sample i.e., the size of the sample. Hence, sample design is determined before the collection of data. Among various types of sample design technique, the researcher should choose that samples which are reliable and appropriate for his research study.
Steps in Sample DesignThere are various steps which the researcher should follow.… Read the rest
Systematic Random Sampling in Research
In cluster sampling the population again is subdivided into subgroups termed clusters instead of strata. The term cluster means a bunch of similar things. Suppose the thousand employees of a factory in our example comprise of teams each consisting of one supervisor and nine workers, and we choose these teams at random, it is a cluster sample, because we have taken one hundred clusters as our sample.
One popular type of cluster sample is the systematic random sample also called quasi-random sample. Suppose the thousand employees of the factory are listed alphabetically and numbered serially to form the sample frame.… Read the rest
Stratified Random Sampling in Research
In the example of choosing a simple random sample of twenty employees out of a thousand in a factory, suppose they include 100 supervise and 900 workers. A simple random sample comes by mere chance and it possible that among the twenty chosen, all may be supervisors or none may be. If the researcher feels that he should study both the subgroups, it would be me sensible to take a random sample from each subgroup (stratum) after separate lists for the two strata. Such sampling is called stratified random sampling. Stratification may be done in business research on differ characteristics like sex, age (e.g.… Read the rest
Simple Random Sampling in Research
In probability sampling, each element of the population has a known non-zero chance of being selected for the sample. Among the probability sampling methods, simple random sampling is simplest as its name indicate and it underlies many of the more complex methods.
In a simple random sample of a given size, all such subsets of the frame are given an equal probability. Each element of the frame thus has an equal probability of selection: the frame is not subdivided or partitioned. Furthermore, any given pair of elements has the same chance of selection as any other such pair (and similarly for triples, and so on).… Read the rest
Research Design
A research design is nothing but a detailed plan of action for the research. A researcher attempting to solve the research problem, should necessarily prepare a plan which will help him to attain his ultimate motto. This plan is nothing but a research design. It is a plan which defines research problem, identifies data needed, decides on tool of data collection, and type of study etc. It is a tentative plan which undergoes many modifications as the research study progresses. It presents a series of guide posts to enable the researcher to progress in the right direction.
Definitions of Research DesignSeveral definitions of Research Design have been advanced by several writers on the subject of research methodology.… Read the rest