List the stages of the sampling process

Question 1

Each of these steps is very important in the selection of a ‘good’ sample

Answer 1

(1) Definition of the scope of the target population
for example, geographically or in terms of any other characteristics

(2) Definition of the sampling units
normally be units which we want to study eg households, farm holdings, individual people, villages, fields. The choice of unit of study depends on the objectives of the research and the environment in which the study is to be carried out and its choice is intrinsically connected with the variables we choose to measure. Therefore, in practice, the unit of study is selected alongside the choice of variable and research design.

(3) Definition of the sampling frame
the set of units (items, events) from which the sample will be selected. The sampling frame is a list of the units in the population from which the units that will be sampled are selected. EG An example sample frame for a social study might be the complete list of households in an area, taken from Post Office listings

(4) Specification of a particular sampling method
the method for choosing households for the sample, or areas to be sampled in a field.

(5) Sampling and data collecting
(6) Review of the sampling process