Sampling frame

In statistics, a sampling frame is the source material or device from which a sample is drawn.

As a remedy, we seek a sampling frame which has the property that we can identify every single element and include any in our sample.

In the most straightforward cases, such as when dealing with a batch of material from a production run, or using a census, it is possible to identify and measure every single item in the population and to include any one of them in our sample; this is known as direct element sampling.

However, population censuses rely on a sampling frame to count the population.

In statistics, a sampling frame is the source material or device from which a sample is drawn.

It is a list of all those within a population who can be sampled, and may include individuals, households or institutions.

This list should also facilitate access to the selected sampling units.

While not necessary for simple sampling, a sampling frame used for more advanced sample techniques, such as stratified sampling, may contain additional information (such as demographic information).

While not necessary for simple sampling, a sampling frame used for more advanced sample techniques, such as stratified sampling, may contain additional information (such as demographic information).

For example, in an opinion poll, possible sampling frames include an electoral register or a telephone directory.

For example, in an opinion poll, possible sampling frames include an electoral register or a telephone directory.

For example, in an opinion poll, possible sampling frames include an electoral register or a telephone directory.

On a more practical levels, sampling frames have the form of computer files.

For example, a street map can be used as a frame for a door-to-door survey; although it doesn't show individual houses, we can select streets from the map and then select houses on those streets.

In some cases, this may lead to sampling bias.

The difficulties can be extreme when the population and frame are disjoint.

This is a particular problem in forecasting where inferences about the future are made from historical data.

This is a particular problem in forecasting where inferences about the future are made from historical data.

In fact, in 1703, when Jacob Bernoulli proposed to Gottfried Leibniz the possibility of using historical mortality data to predict the probability of early death of a living man, Gottfried Leibniz recognized the problem in replying:

In fact, in 1703, when Jacob Bernoulli proposed to Gottfried Leibniz the possibility of using historical mortality data to predict the probability of early death of a living man, Gottfried Leibniz recognized the problem in replying:

In fact, in 1703, when Jacob Bernoulli proposed to Gottfried Leibniz the possibility of using historical mortality data to predict the probability of early death of a living man, Gottfried Leibniz recognized the problem in replying:

Problems like those listed can be identified by the use of pre-survey tests and pilot studies.

As sample members are not selected from a sampling frame, snowball samples are subject to numerous biases.

Systematic sampling is a statistical method involving the selection of elements from an ordered sampling frame.

Because no sampling frame is used to draw the sample of participants, open-access polls may not have participants that represent the larger population.