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# Sampling and Data: Sampling

Summary: This module introduces the concept of statistical sampling. Students are taught the difference between a simple random sample, stratified sample, cluster sample, systematic sample, and convenience sample. Example problems are provided, including an optional classroom activity.

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Gathering information about an entire population often costs too much or is virtually impossible. Instead, we use a sample of the population. A sample should have the same characteristics as the population it is representing. Most statisticians use various methods of random sampling in an attempt to achieve this goal. This section will describe a few of the most common methods.

There are several different methods of random sampling. In each form of random sampling, each member of a population initially has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. Each method has pros and cons. The easiest method to describe is called a simple random sample. Two simple random samples contain members equally representative of the entire population. In other words, each sample of the same size has an equal chance of being selected. For example, suppose Lisa wants to form a four-person study group (herself and three other people) from her pre-calculus class, which has 32 members including Lisa. To choose a simple random sample of size 3 from the other members of her class, Lisa could put all 32 names in a hat, shake the hat, close her eyes, and pick out 3 names. A more technological way is for Lisa to first list the last names of the members of her class together with a two-digit number as shown below.

Table 1: Class Roster
ID Name
00 Anselmo
01 Bautista
02 Bayani
03 Cheng
04 Cuarismo
05 Cuningham
06 Fontecha
07 Hong
08 Hoobler
09 Jiao
10 Khan
11 King
12 Legeny
13 Lundquist
14 Macierz
15 Motogawa
16 Okimoto
17 Patel
18 Price
19 Quizon
20 Reyes
21 Roquero
22 Roth
23 Rowell
24 Salangsang
26 Stracher
27 Tallai
28 Tran
29 Wai
30 Wood

Lisa can either use a table of random numbers (found in many statistics books as well as mathematical handbooks) or a calculator or computer to generate random numbers. For this example, suppose Lisa chooses to generate random numbers from a calculator. The numbers generated are:

.94360; .99832; .14669; .51470; .40581; .73381; .04399

Lisa reads two-digit groups until she has chosen three class members (that is, she reads .94360 as the groups 94, 43, 36, 60). Each random number may only contribute one class member. If she needed to, Lisa could have generated more random numbers.

The random numbers .94360 and .99832 do not contain appropriate two digit numbers. However the third random number, .14669, contains 14 (the fourth random number also contains 14), the fifth random number contains 05, and the seventh random number contains 04. The two-digit number 14 corresponds to Macierz, 05 corresponds to Cunningham, and 04 corresponds to Cuarismo. Besides herself, Lisa's group will consist of Marcierz, and Cunningham, and Cuarismo.

Sometimes, it is difficult or impossible to obtain a simple random sample because populations are too large. Then we choose other forms of sampling methods that involve a chance process for getting the sample. Other well-known random sampling methods are the stratified sample, the cluster sample, and the systematic sample.

To choose a stratified sample, divide the population into groups called strata and then take a sample from each stratum. For example, you could stratify (group) your college population by department and then choose a simple random sample from each stratum (each department) to get a stratified random sample. To choose a simple random sample from each department, number each member of the first department, number each member of the second department and do the same for the remaining departments. Then use simple random sampling to choose numbers from the first department and do the same for each of the remaining departments. Those numbers picked from the first department, picked from the second department and so on represent the members who make up the stratified sample.

To choose a cluster sample, divide the population into strata and then randomly select some of the strata. All the members from these strata are in the cluster sample. For example, if you randomly sample four departments from your stratified college population, the four departments make up the cluster sample. You could do this by numbering the different departments and then choose four different numbers using simple random sampling. All members of the four departments with those numbers are the cluster sample.

To choose a systematic sample, randomly select a starting point and take every nth piece of data from a listing of the population. For example, suppose you have to do a phone survey. Your phone book contains 20,000 residence listings. You must choose 400 names for the sample. Number the population 1 - 20,000 and then use a simple random sample to pick a number that represents the first name of the sample. Then choose every 50th name thereafter until you have a total of 400 names (you might have to go back to the of your phone list). Systematic sampling is frequently chosen because it is a simple method.

A type of sampling that is nonrandom is convenience sampling. Convenience sampling involves using results that are readily available. For example, a computer software store conducts a marketing study by interviewing potential customers who happen to be in the store browsing through the available software. The results of convenience sampling may be very good in some cases and highly biased (favors certain outcomes) in others.

Sampling data should be done very carefully. Collecting data carelessly can have devastating results. Surveys mailed to households and then returned may be very biased (for example, they may favor a certain group). It is better for the person conducting the survey to select the sample respondents.

In reality, simple random sampling should be done with replacement That is, once a member is picked that member goes back into the population and thus may be chosen more than once. This is true random sampling. However for practical reasons, in most populations, simple random sampling is done without replacement. That is, a member of the population may be chosen only once. Most samples are taken from large populations and the sample tends to be small in comparison to the population. Since this is the case, sampling without replacement is approximately the same as sampling with replacement because the chance of picking the same sample more than once using with replacement is very low.

For example, in a college population of 10,000 people, suppose you want to pick a sample of 1000 for a survey. For any particular sample of 1000, if you are sampling with replacement,

• the chance of picking the first person is 1000 out of 10,000 (0.1000);
• the chance of picking a different second person for this sample is 999 out of 10,000 (0.0999);
• the chance of picking the same person again is 1 out of 10,000 (very low).

If you are sampling without replacement,

• the chance of picking the first person for any particular sample is 1000 out of 10,000 (0.1000);
• the chance of picking a different second person is 999 out of 9,999 (0.0999);
• you do not replace the first person before picking the next person.

Compare the fractions 999/10,000 and 999/9,999. For accuracy, carry the decimal answers to 4 place decimals. To 4 decimal places, these numbers are equivalent (0.0999).

Sampling without replacement instead of sampling with replacement only becomes a mathematics issue when the population is small which is not that common. For example, if the population is 25 people, the sample is 10 and you are sampling with replacement for any particular sample,

• the chance of picking the first person is 10 out of 25 and a different second person is 9 out of 25 (you replace the first person).

If you sample without replacement,

• the chance of picking the first person is 10 out of 25 and then the second person (which is different) is 9 out of 24 (you do not replace the first person).

Compare the fractions 9/25 and 9/24. To 4 decimal places, 9/25 = 0.3600 and 9/24 = 0.3750. To 4 decimal places, these numbers are not equivalent.

When you analyze data, it is important to be aware of sampling errors and nonsampling errors. The actual process of sampling causes sampling errors. For example, the sample may not be large enough or representative of the population. Factors not related to the sampling process cause nonsampling errors. A defective counting device can cause a nonsampling error.

## Example 1

### Problem 1

Determine the type of sampling used (simple random, stratified, systematic, cluster, or convenience).

1. A soccer coach selects 6 players from a group of boys aged 8 to 10, 7 players from a group of boys aged 11 to 12, and 3 players from a group of boys aged 13 to 14 to form a recreational soccer team.
2. A pollster interviews all human resource personnel in five different high tech companies.
3. An engineering researcher interviews 50 women engineers and 50 men engineers.
4. A medical researcher interviews every third cancer patient from a list of cancer patients at a local hospital.
5. A high school counselor uses a computer to generate 50 random numbers and then picks students whose names correspond to the numbers.
6. A student interviews classmates in his algebra class to determine how many pairs of jeans a student owns, on the average.

#### Solution

1. stratified
2. cluster
3. stratified
4. systematic
5. simple random
6. convenience

If we were to examine two samples representing the same population, they would, more than likely, not be the same. Just as there is variation in data, there is variation in samples. As you become accustomed to sampling, the variability will seem natural.

## Example 2

Suppose ABC College has 10,000 part-time students (the population). We are interested in the average amount of money a part-time student spends on books in the fall term. Asking all 10,000 students is an almost impossible task.

Suppose we take two different samples.

First, we use convenience sampling and survey 10 students from a first term organic chemistry class. Many of these students are taking first term calculus in addition to the organic chemistry class . The amount of money they spend is as follows:

$128;$87; $173;$116; $130;$204; $147;$189; $93;$153

The second sample is taken by using a list from the P.E. department of senior citizens who take P.E. classes and taking every 5th senior citizen on the list, for a total of 10 senior citizens. They spend:

$50;$40; $36;$15; $50;$100; $40;$53; $22;$22

### Problem 1

Do you think that either of these samples is representative of (or is characteristic of) the entire 10,000 part-time student population?

#### Solution

No. The first sample probably consists of science-oriented students. Besides the chemistry course, some of them are taking first-term calculus. Books for these classes tend to be expensive. Most of these students are, more than likely, paying more than the average part-time student for their books. The second sample is a group of senior citizens who are, more than likely, taking courses for health and interest. The amount of money they spend on books is probably much less than the average part-time student. Both samples are biased. Also, in both cases, not all students have a chance to be in either sample.

### Problem 2

Since these samples are not representative of the entire population, is it wise to use the results to describe the entire population?

#### Solution

No. Never use a sample that is not representative or does not have the characteristics of the population.

Now, suppose we take a third sample. We choose ten different part-time students from the disciplines of chemistry, math, English, psychology, sociology, history, nursing, physical education, art, and early childhood development. Each student is chosen using simple random sampling. Using a calculator, random numbers are generated and a student from a particular discipline is selected if he/she has a corresponding number. The students spend:

$180;$50; $150;$85; $260;$75; $180;$200; $200;$150

### Problem 3

Do you think this sample is representative of the population?

#### Solution

Yes. It is chosen from different disciplines across the population.

Students often ask if it is "good enough" to take a sample, instead of surveying the entire population. If the survey is done well, the answer is yes.

## Optional Collaborative Classroom Exercise

### Exercise 1

As a class, determine whether or not the following samples are representative. If they are not, discuss the reasons.

1. To find the average GPA of all students in a university, use all honor students at the university as the sample.
2. To find out the most popular cereal among young people under the age of 10, stand outside a large supermarket for three hours and speak to every 20th child under age 10 who enters the supermarket.
3. To find the average annual income of all adults in the United States, sample U.S. congressmen. Create a cluster sample by considering each state as a stratum (group). By using simple random sampling, select states to be part of the cluster. Then survey every U.S. congressman in the cluster.
4. To determine the proportion of people taking public transportation to work, survey 20 people in New York City. Conduct the survey by sitting in Central Park on a bench and interviewing every person who sits next to you.
5. To determine the average cost of a two day stay in a hospital in Massachusetts, survey 100 hospitals across the state using simple random sampling.

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