Random Sampling
Random sampling gives everybody an equal chance to be chosen as a sample. This unbiased sample enables researchers to generalize their findings to the whole population. For example, if anthropologists need to get a random sample of 100 out of a village of 640 people, they might proceed as follows:
1. List and number everyone in the village.
2. Take a particular number from a previously designed table of random numbers.
3. Match the table number with a person number, and those who correspond with these particular numbers become the sample.
Research findings of the above sample can be applicable to the whole population of the village because anthropologists did not indicate any preferences in their selection process.
This page was created by a Minnesota State University, Mankato student. Last updated 11/14/04.