Training Educators to Design and Develop ODL Materials/Needs Analysis/SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

With simple random sampling, each item in a population has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample. For example, each name in a telephone book could be numbered sequentially. If the sample size was to include 2,000 people, then 2,000 numbers could be randomly generated by computer or numbers could be picked out of a hat. These numbers could then be matched to names in the telephone book, thereby providing a list of 2,000 people.

A Tattslotto draw is a good example of simple random sampling. A sample of 6 numbers is randomly generated from a population of 45, with each number having an equal chance of being selected.

The advantage of simple random sampling is that it is simple and easy to apply when small populations are involved. However, because every person or item in a population has to be listed before the corresponding random numbers can be read, this method is very cumbersome to use for large populations.