DETERMINATION OF SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING METHODS IN APPLIED RESEARCH

Abstract

Sample size, sampling method and sampling technique plays a major role in social sciences, business, health science, agricultural science research and survey research. If the sample size is inappropriate it may lead to wrong inferences on the population. Precise sampling techniques are used for specific research problems because one technique may not be appropriate for all problems. Significant factors considered for the estimation of sample size were population size, confidence level proportion of outcome in case of categorical variables, standard deviation of the outcomes in case of ordinal variables, essential precision from the research. The present paper gives an outline of commonly used techniques in the research to find out the sample size precisely. Probability sampling techniques are more suitable for health science related research.

Keywords

• sample size
• sampling method
• health science
• agricultural science
• survey research