FACTOID # 14: If you like kids, then Uganda might be the place for you. Half the population is under 15!
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Simple random sample

In statistics, a simple random sample is a group of subjects (a sample) chosen from a larger group (a population). Each subject from the population is chosen randomly and entirely by chance, such that each subject has the same probability of being chosen at any stage during the sampling process. This process and technique is known as Simple Random Sampling, and should not be confused with Random Sampling. Template:Otherusescccc A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... A sample is that part of a population which is actually observed. ... Randomization is the process of making something random; this can mean: Generating a random permutation of a sequence (such as when shuffling cards). ... Probability is the extent to which something is likely to happen or be the case[1]. Probability theory is used extensively in areas such as statistics, mathematics, science, philosophy to draw conclusions about the likelihood of potential events and the underlying mechanics of complex systems. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...


In small populations such sampling is typically done "without replacement", i.e., one deliberately avoids choosing any member of the population more than once. An unbiased random selection of subjects is important so that in the long run, the sample represents the population. However, this does not guarantee that a particular sample is a perfect representation of the population. Simple random sampling merely allows one to draw externally valid conclusions about the entire population based on the sample. Although simple random sampling can be conducted with replacement instead, this is less common and would normally be described more fully as simple random sampling with replacement.


Conceptually, simple random sampling is the simplest of the probability sampling techniques. It requires a complete sampling frame, which may not be available or feasible to construct for large populations. Even if a complete frame is available, more efficient approaches may be possible if other useful information is available about the units in the population.


Advantages are that it is free of classification error, and it requires minimum advance knowledge of the population. It best suits situations where not much information is available about the population and data collection can be efficiently conducted on randomly distributed items. If these conditions are not true, stratified sampling or cluster sampling may be a better choice. In statistics, stratified sampling is a method of sampling from a population. ... Cluster sampling is used when natural groupings are evident in the population. ...


Distinction between a random sample and a simple random sample

In a simple random sample, not only does each element have the same probability of being selected for the sample, but furthermore every possible sample has the same probability. The latter, stronger property distinguishes the notion of "simple random sample" from the notion of just "random sample".


Consider a sample of 4 integers from the population of integers 1 through 8. One way to draw this sample is to flip a coin. If the coin comes up heads, then select the four even integers. If the coin comes up tails, then select the four odd integers. This is a random sample because the probability that any one element appears in the sample is exactly 50%. But it is not a simple random sample because one possible sample (1,3,5,7) has 50% probability while another possible sample (1,2,3,4) has 0% probability. Since there are 8!/(4!4!)=70 different samples of size 4 from a population of 8, for a sample to be a simple random sample, each sample has to have probability 1/70.


test Look up test in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


Sampling a dichotomous population

If the members of the population come in two kinds, say "red" and "black", one can consider the distribution of the number of red elements in a sample of a given size. That distribution depends on the numbers of red and black elements in the full population. For a simple random sample with replacement, the distribution is a binomial distribution. For a simple random sample without replacement, one obtains a hypergeometric distribution. In probability theory and statistics, the binomial distribution is the discrete probability distribution of the number of successes in a sequence of n independent yes/no experiments, each of which yields success with probability p. ... In probability theory and statistics, the hypergeometric distribution is a discrete probability distribution that describes the number of successes in a sequence of n draws from a finite population without replacement. ...


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Algebra ~ High School Assessments ~ Instruction ~ School Improvement in Maryland (848 words)
Simple random sampling, probability sampling, stratified random sampling, systematic sampling and multistage sampling are some of the legitimate sampling methods that are widely used depending on what is being measured.
Simple random sampling is defined as sampling a group of n individuals from the population in such a way that every combination of n individuals has an equal chance of being the sample selected.
A representative sample is a sample of the population that closely represents the whole population.
Statistics Glossary - Sampling (1270 words)
Random sampling is a sampling technique where we select a group of subjects (a sample) for study from a larger group (a population).
Simple random sampling is the basic sampling technique where we select a group of subjects (a sample) for study from a larger group (a population).
Simple random sampling is most appropriate when the entire population from which the sample is taken is homogeneous.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.