probability sampling in research

Probability Sampling in Research
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Probability Sampling in Research
The determining factor of any research process is the applied sampling procedure making it a central aspect of the investigation. Researchers ought to select a sampling style that will ensure the credibility of the process. Many sampling procedures exist within the field of research. One such method is the probability method. This paper presents the logic behind this style and documents a criticism of using a telephone directory to select a sample in a research process.
Probability sampling is a type of selection and inclusivity criteria in research that relies on a random kind of identification of participants. Probability sampling ensures every member within the target population has an equal probability or chance of participating in the survey. If the entire members within a sample frame have an equal opportunity of inclusion in a study, then the sampling becomes representative (Sharma, 2017). Not only will the sample be representative, but also give the researcher the ability to calculate the accuracy of the sample’s representation of the entire population. An individual’s probability of inclusion in the sample happens depending on the attributes this person possesses and the distribution of persons with similar traits within the community. Estimating the population’s characteristics and the sampling error is possible.
Whenever selecting a sample, the sample frame should ensure the likelihood of inclusivity of every member within the target society.

Telephone directories are unreliable since they do not provide every member within the society a chance of inclusion. Telephone directories lack new subscribers within the region. Some potential respondents will, therefore, not get a chance of participation. Secondly, the telephone directory leaves out some unlisted members within the society.
Another limitation of the telephone directory is that it has a bias on matters social class. The poor members of the society are unlikely to have a phone. The wealthy people might have more than one telephone or their lines may not appear in the list as a security measure due to their influence in the society. Lack of phone due to poverty will, therefore, potentially harbor respondents from participating in a study if the telephone directory dictates the selection process. Moreover, some members of the researched society might lack a telephone but have a cell-phone. Mobile phone users do not appear in the telephone directory.
Another factor that can disqualify telephone directory from as a source of the sampling frame is that in some instances, the list might have a larger population than the actual target population. The catalog does not go through regular checks and updates and might have some persons that could have relocated to other regions or countries while some might have succumbed. The above factors make telephone directory criticisms are sufficient to disqualify a sample that includes persons from a region’s telephone directory.
In summary, this paper has highlighted the logic being probability sampling. This design gives every participant an equal chance of being part of a research process. It also allows researchers an opportunity to calculate the error margin and the accuracy of the representation. However, the source of the respondents while using probability sampling is vital in ensuring proper representativeness of the sample. For example, taking a sample from a telephone directory will not give every participant a chance of inclusion since some members might lack telephones, some potential participants could be using cell phones and not appear in the directory among other reasons presented in this essay.
Reference
Sharma, G. (2017). Pros and cons of different sampling techniques. International Journal of Applied Research, 3(7), 749-752.