Non-Probability Sampling
A Non-Probability Sampling is a selection process that is not random sampling and which probability can not be determined.
References
2015
- (Wikipedia, 2016) ⇒ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Nonprobability_sampling Retrieved 2016-07-24
- Sampling is the use of a subset of the population to represent the whole population or to inform about (social) processes that are meaningful beyond the particular cases, individuals or sites studied. Probability sampling, or random sampling, is a sampling technique in which the probability of getting any particular sample may be calculated. Nonprobability sampling does not meet this criterion and, as any methodological decision, should adjust to the research question that one envisages to answer. Nonprobability sampling techniques cannot be used to infer from the sample to the general population in statistical terms and thus answer "how many"-related research questions.
- (Statistics Canada, 2016) ⇒ http://www.statcan.gc.ca/edu/power-pouvoir/ch13/nonprob/5214898-eng.htm Retrieved 2016-07-24
- The difference between probability and non-probability sampling has to do with a basic assumption about the nature of the population under study. In probability sampling, every item has a chance of being selected. In non-probability sampling, there is an assumption that there is an even distribution of characteristics within the population. This is what makes the researcher believe that any sample would be representative and because of that, results will be accurate. For probability sampling, randomization is a feature of the selection process, rather than an assumption about the structure of the population.
In non-probability sampling, since elements are chosen arbitrarily, there is no way to estimate the probability of any one element being included in the sample. Also, no assurance is given that each item has a chance of being included, making it impossible either to estimate sampling variability or to identify possible bias
Reliability cannot be measured in non-probability sampling; the only way to address data quality is to compare some of the survey results with available information about the population. Still, there is no assurance that the estimates will meet an acceptable level of error. Statisticians are reluctant to use these methods because there is no way to measure the precision of the resulting sample.
- The difference between probability and non-probability sampling has to do with a basic assumption about the nature of the population under study. In probability sampling, every item has a chance of being selected. In non-probability sampling, there is an assumption that there is an even distribution of characteristics within the population. This is what makes the researcher believe that any sample would be representative and because of that, results will be accurate. For probability sampling, randomization is a feature of the selection process, rather than an assumption about the structure of the population.