Sample design and sampling

Introduction In Chapter 3 of this book, the basic concern of sampling was introduced as being that of achieving a representative sample. Furthermore, that chapter introduced the idea of probability sampling, and put forward the concept of the equal probability of selection method as the basis for representative sample creation. The purpose of this chapter is to explore how to design a sample and how to determine the sample size that is required for a particular survey. Moreover, this chapter elaborates on the notion of sampling error and develops the statistical procedures required to estimate the amount of sample error in a survey. Prior to embarking on the statistical aspects of sample design, there are a few issues that must be dealt with. First, there is the definition and description of sampling frames. Next, this chapter considers what comprises a sampling procedure, within which is also described a popular process for generating a random telephone sample, namely random digit dialling. Sampling procedures in general are then discussed. Following this, a number of equal and unequal probability methods of sampling are dealt with, in which the statistical procedures for estimating population means and totals, proportions, and ratios, the estimation of sampling errors for each sampling method, and methods to determine the sample sizes required for a pre-specified level of accuracy are all laid out.