There are several sampling methods to choose from, here is a look at the sampling methods you can choose from to pick the best fit for your survey.

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There are a couple different sampling
methods to choose from, but only one
right one for your survey. The sampling
method you choose should be based
on who you’re surveying and why.
SAMPLING METHODS
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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In a nutshell:
Researchers usually cannot make direct
observations of every individual in the population
they are studying. Instead, they collect data from a
subset of individuals—a sample—and use those
observations to make inferences about the entire
population.
—University of California, Davis, Psychology Department
WHY DO SURVEYS?
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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A slight whittling down of the
population. There’s an element of
randomness—you might just call a
house and talk to whoever answered
the phone, as opposed to seeking a
specific person.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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A further whittling down. In
nonprobability sampling, you’re
looking for that specific person in the
house, not just any member of the
household.
NONPROBABILITY SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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Exactly how it sounds. You leave things
to chance, and the results you get can
be representative or not. If your survey
ends up skewed towards certain parts
of the population over others, it may
not be representative and, therefore,
may be inaccurate.
RANDOM SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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More structured, but arbitrary. Say, you
knock on every other door instead of
every one. How representative your
sampling is depends on the structure
you choose.
SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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Narrowing the field a little by choosing
subpopulations within a larger one.
Say, if you choose one gender over
another.
CLUSTER SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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Intricate methodology backed by
research. Stratified sampling takes a lot
more work to get the sample group
correct; however, it can yield more
accurate results.
STRATIFIED SAMPLING
Sampling Methods for Surveys

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