What is Sampling? What are its Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages?

Introduction and Meaning
In the Research Methodology, practical formulation of the research is very much important and so should be done very carefully with proper concentration and in the presence of a very good guidance.
But during the formulation of the research on the practical grounds, one tends to go through a large number of problems. These problems are generally related to the knowing of the features of the universe or the population on the basis of studying the characteristics of the specific part or some portion, generally called as the sample.

So now sampling can be defined as the method or the technique consisting of selection for the study of the so called part or the portion or the sample, with a view to draw conclusions or the solutions about the universe or the population.

According to Mildred Parton, “Sampling method is the process or the method of drawing a definite number of the individuals, cases or the observations from a particular universe, selecting part of a total group for investigation.”

Basic Principles of Sampling

Theory of sampling is based on the following laws-
• Law of Statistical Regularity – This law comes from the mathematical theory of probability. According to King,” Law of Statistical Regularity says that a moderately large number of the items chosen at random from the large group are almost sure on the average to possess the features of the large group.”
According to this law the units of the sample must be selected at random.

• Law of Inertia of Large Numbers – According to this law, the other things being equal – the larger the size of the sample; the more accurate the results are likely to be.

Characteristics of the sampling technique
1. Much cheaper.
2. Saves time.
3. Much reliable.
4. Very suitable for carrying out different surveys.
5. Scientific in nature.

Advantages of sampling
1. Very accurate.
2. Economical in nature.
3. Very reliable.
4. High suitability ratio towards the different surveys.
5. Takes less time.
6. In cases, when the universe is very large, then the sampling method is the only practical method for collecting the data.

Disadvantages of sampling
1. Inadequacy of the samples.
2. Chances for bias.
3. Problems of accuracy.
4. Difficulty of getting the representative sample.
5. Untrained manpower.
6. Absence of the informants.
7. Chances of committing the errors in sampling.