SAMPLE SIZE

BY: MRS. PRECILLA C. STEPHEN

 FACTORS AFFECTING SAMPLE SIZE

 Resources available: A large sample may ensure precision, but it may prove to be costly as it may make the
researchers realize at some time or the other that they are running short or out of money and other resources. So
before carrying out a study with a large sample, the researchers need to decide if they have sufficient resources.

 Nature of study: The sample SIZE depends upon the type of study to be carried out. Small samples can make
intensive and longitudinal studies successful, but for extensive and one-time studies large samples are required.

 Sampling methods used: Smaller but efficiently selected samples prove to be far better than badly selected,
spurious large sample. Probability sampling has been able to prove its worth in the research more as compared to
nonprobability sampling.
 Cooperation and attribution: Attrition refers to the condition when people initially willing to
participate fail to continue participation and leave the sample. If the data is collected from
multiple points and there is less chance of communication of the researcher with the sample
due to long time gap, there can be a possibility of attrition. So, sample SIZE should be selected
including expected refusals.

 Effect SIZE: If the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is strong,
then a small sample will be sufficient. Ex: to find the effect of drug abuse on family
disorganization, a sample that is small will be enough.
 SAMPLING ERROR

 Sampling error is the deviation of the selected sample from the true
characteristics, behaviours, qualities, or figures of the entire population.
 REASONS OF THE SAMPLING ERRORS

 Chance error: The error occur by chance. Ex: Someone did a comparative study on malnutrition in
fewer than five children in tow cities A and B. unfortunately, city B had a large number of slum
dwellers. So it comprised a large number of malnourished children, thus skewing the result.

 Sampling bias: Sampling bias is a tendency to favour a selection of sample units that posses particular
characteristics. Ex: A study is done on nursing students satisfaction with staying at a hostel or as a
paying guest. This study is biased towards those students who are hostellers or paying guests, but it
excluded the students who come from their own homes or who are day scholars.
 TYPES OF SAMPLING BIAS
 SELF-SELECTION BIAS: - This type of bias happens in a situation when the participants in the
study have some kind of control over the study to participate or not. Ex: if a study is conducted on the
number of people who can carry a load of 10 kg for 20 min, then only well-built people will have a
preferences to participate.

 EXCLUSION BIAS: - This type of bias happens when some people of the group are eliminated from
the study as the instance of day scholars

 HEALTHY USER BIAS: - This type of bias occurs when the sample selected has more likelihood to
be healthier as compared to general population. Ex: if the sample is selected from students who take the
food from the mess and not the canteen where junk food is available.
 MINIMIZE SAMPLING ERRORS/BIAS

 Avoid convenient or judgement sampling.

 To ensure that the target population is well defined and the sample frame should
match it as much as possible.

 When complete population cannot be sampled then care should be taken that the
population that is excluded one is not taking away the desired features, which
were supposed to be measured from the population.
 PROBLEMS OF SAMPLING

 Sampling error: - It is the deviation of the selected sample from the true
characteristics, behaviours, qualities, or figures of the entire population.

 Lack of sample representatives: - Selection of a representatives sample is not

an easy task; further, it becomes more difficult when population under study is
heterogenous and sampling process is carried out in the absence of consideration
of the nature of the population.
 Difficulty in estimation of sample size: - There is lack of availability of population
parameters, especially in our own scenario. In the absence of population parameters, it
becomes very difficult to estimate the sample size. Studies conducted on undetermined sample
size to facilitate to generalize for the particular population.

 Lack of knowledge about the sampling process: - It is generally observed that researchers
usually carry superficial knowledge about the sampling methods and sampling process that
leads to poor sample selection and ultimately affects the study results.
 Lack of resources: - Resource allocation especially for nursing research studies is very poor is a
country like India, where it becomes very difficult for a researcher to draw a representative sample in
absence of adequate resources.

 Lack of cooperation: - On several occasions it is observed that study subjects did not cooperate with
researcher, which ultimately affects the sampling process and creates a problem for a researcher.

 Callous approach of the researcher towards sampling process: - Generally it is observed that
researchers pay very little attention for appropriateness of the sampling method for a particular
phenomenon under study. Further, they casually chose a particular type of the sampling technique to
select a sample rather than an effective sampling process paln.