Sampling in Human Studies

• Published in: Research Methods for Postgraduates pp. 255 - 263
• Main Author: Lynn, Peter
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 08.09.2016
• Subjects: geographical distribution; human population; interview surveys; sampling; self‐administered postal questionnaire; United Kingdom
• ISBN: 1118341465; 9781118341469
• DOI: 10.1002/9781118763025.ch25

This chapter describes the main issues to be considered when designing a sample for a study of a human population. Sample units may be individual persons or may be groups of people such as households or families. A common research method used with human subjects is the interview survey, and much of the discussion is about sampling for interview surveys. The central issues are similar for any research that takes the collection of data directly from the selected sample. Important sampling issues for other research methods will be mentioned. The chapter refers specifically to studies in the United Kingdom, particularly the section on 'Sampling General Populations'. Fieldwork efficiency for some research methods is not related to the geographical distribution of the sample. An example is where the data are to be collected at a central point using a self‐administered postal questionnaire, a web questionnaire or the telephone.