Factors Influencing Decision To Sample

Factors Influencing Decision To Sample

Factors Influencing Decision To Sample

Factors Influencing Decision To Sample

 

Any researcher takes some decision regarding the sampling plan. His decision to sample is influenced by atleast three factors:

  1. Size of the Population
  2. Cost involved in obtaining the elements
  3. Convenience & Accessibility of the elements

 

  1. Size of the population- Decision to sample is directly influenced by the size of the population. If the population is small, for example, it consists of 100 individuals, the investigator may decide to include all in his study & therefore, sampling may not be done. On the other hand, if the size of the population is large, say, it consists of 10,000 individuals, he may decide to select limited number of individuals from the population of 10,000 individuals. It is also important to note that the size of the population is a relative matter, what one researcher regards as a large population, the other may regards it as a small one. In fact, no clear- cut guidance exists for making distinction between large and small population.

 

  1. Cost involved in obtaining the elements- The researcher is also influenced by the cost likely to be incurred in obtaining the elements from the population. If the sampling involves a bigger cost which the researcher cannot meat, the decision to sample may be postponed. On the other hand, if sampling involves a cost which the investigator can readily meet, the sampling work is facilitated.

 

  1. Convenience & Accessibility of the elements- Sometimes the researcher may have to deal with a problem with respect to which sample may not be conveniently available. On the other hand, some researcher may have access to facilities and staff where large amount of data could be easily handled.

Thus, decision to sample effectively is influenced by the size of the population, the anticipated cost of the study and the convenience and accessibility associated with the sample.