4.

Use a sample to represent a population

Population is the entire group of individuals we want information about. Census collects data
from every individual in the population, but may take too long and too much money.
Sample is a subset of individuals in the population from which we collect data

We draw conclusions about a whole population from a sample.

Bad Sampling:
Convenience Sample: Go to the school library and ask the first 30 people you see. It produces
unrepresentative data. For example, in the library example, it is unlikely that this sample
accurately represents the homework habits of all students at the high school.
Definition: Choosing individuals from population who are easy to reach results

Voluntary Response Sample consists of people who choose themselves by responding to a

general invitation
People who choose to participate in such surveys are usually not representative of the larger
population of interest. It attracts people who feel strongly about an issue and share the same
opinion.

Bad sampling causes Bias

Definition: Design of a statistical study shows bias if it would consistently underestimate
or consistently overestimate the value you want to know
Bias is not just bad luck in one sample.

Good Sampling: Random Sampling- using a chance process to determine which members of a
population are included in the sample
Impersonal choice avoids bias
Random sampling yields accurate estimates of unknown population values
Easiest way: write names on identical slips of paper, mix, and pick out slips until you have n

Simple Random Sampling: (SRS) of size n is chosen in such a way that every group of n
individuals in the population has an equal chance to be selected as the sample
- Doesnt work well for huge populations
Step 1: Give each individual in the population a distinct numeral label from 1 to N
Step 2: Use RNG to obtain n different integers from 1 to N

Stratified Random Sample: start by classifying the population into groups of similar
individuals called strata. Choose a separate SRS in each stratum and combine SRS to form
sample
Works best when individuals within are similar with respect to what is being measured and when
there are large differences between strata.
Cluster Sample: To get a cluster sample, start by classifying the population into groups of
individuals that are located near each other, called clusters. Then choose an SRS of the clusters.
All individuals in the chosen clusters are included in the sample.

Chosen for practical reasons like saving time and money.

Works best when clusters look like population but on a smaller scale
Different within, similar among