Article

1A - 1D

Thursday, 5 March 2026

census - information from the entire population population - the entire data set subset (sampling frame) - a ‘slice’ of the population

random sampling

simple random number sampling

  • done by index
  • easy and fast
  • removes bias
  • requires indexed sampling frame
  • may be unrepresentative

systematic

  • randomly sorted list, selected by stepping (population size / sample size)
  • easy and fast
  • removes bias
  • requires indexed sampling frame
  • may be unrepresentative
  • is more tedious than simple random number sampling

non-random sampling

stratasfied

  • groups as allocated into stratas, each strata has a set size
  • no bias within stratas
  • more representative of the population
  • takes longer to do
  • can be harder to identify groups for the population
  • biased

quote

  • ask people as you find them, if they fit your quota
  • does not require a defined sampling frame
  • inherently biased

opportunistic

  • randomly ask people when given the opportunity (ie coming across people whilst standing in a location)
  • does not require a defined sampling frame
  • inherently biased