using jmp to draw sampling tree

Stratified Sampling | Definition, Guide & Examples

Published on September 18, 2020 by Lauren Thomas. Revised on July 21, 2022.

In a stratified sample, researchers divide a population into homogeneous subpopulations called strata (the plural of stratum) based on specific characteristics (e.g., race, gender identity, location, etc.). Every member of the population studied should be in exactly one stratum.

Each stratum is then sampled using another probability sampling method, such as cluster or simple random sampling, allowing researchers to estimate statistical measures for each sub-population.

Researchers rely on stratified sampling when a population's characteristics are diverse and they want to ensure that every characteristic is properly represented in the sample.

When to use stratified sampling

To use stratified sampling, you need to be able to divide your population into mutually exclusive and exhaustive subgroups. That means every member of the population can be clearly classified into exactly one subgroup.

Stratified sampling is the best choice among the probability sampling methods when you believe that subgroups will have different mean values for the variable(s) you're studying. It has several potential advantages:

• Ensuring the diversity of your sample

A stratified sample includes subjects from every subgroup, ensuring that it reflects the diversity of your population. It is theoretically possible (albeit unlikely) that this would not happen when using other sampling methods such as simple random sampling.

• Ensuring similar variance

If you want the data collected from each subgroup to have a similar level of variance, you need a similar sample size for each subgroup.

With other methods of sampling, you might end up with a low sample size for certain subgroups because they're less common in the overall population.

• Lowering the overall variance in the population

Although your overall population can be quite heterogeneous, it may be more homogenous within certain subgroups.

For example, if you are studying how a new schooling program affects the test scores of children, both their original scores and any change in scores will most likely be highly correlated with family income. The scores are likely to be grouped by family income category.

In this case, stratified sampling allows for more precise measures of the variables you wish to study, with lower variance within each subgroup and therefore for the population as a whole.

• Allowing for a variety of data collection methods

Sometimes you may need to use different methods to collect data from different subgroups.

For example, in order to lower the cost and difficulty of your study, you may want to sample urban subjects by going door-to-door, but rural subjects using mail.

Research example

You are interested in how having a doctoral degree affects the wage gap between gender identities among graduates of a certain university.

Because only a small proportion of this university's graduates have obtained a doctoral degree, using a simple random sample would likely give you a sample size too small to properly compare the differences between men, women, and those who do not identify as men or women with a doctoral degree versus those without one.

Therefore, you decide to use a stratified sample, relying on a list provided by the university of all its graduates within the last ten years.

Step 1: Define your population and subgroups

Like other methods of probability sampling, you should begin by clearly defining the population from which your sample will be taken.

Choosing characteristics for stratification

You must also choose the characteristic that you will use to divide your groups. This choice is very important: since each member of the population can only be placed in only one subgroup, the classification of each subject to each subgroup should be clear and obvious.

Stratifying by multiple characteristics

You can choose to stratify by multiple different characteristics at once, so long as you can clearly match every subject to exactly one subgroup. In this case, to get the total number of subgroups, you multiply the numbers of strata for each characteristic.

For instance, if you were stratifying by both race and gender identity, using four groups for the former and three for the latter, you would have 4 x 3 = 12 groups in total.

Example: Stratifying by multiple characteristics

Your population is all graduates of the university within the last ten years. You will stratify by both gender identity and degree received.

Step 2: Separate the population into strata

Next, collect a list of every member of the population, and assign each member to a stratum.

You must ensure that each stratum is mutually exclusive (there is no overlap between them), but that together, they contain the entire population.

Example: Separating the population into strata

You compile a list of every graduate's name, gender identity, and the degree that they obtained. Using this list, you stratify on two characteristics: gender identity, with three strata (male, female, and other), and degree, with three strata (bachelor's, master's, and doctorate).

Combining these characteristics, you have nine groups in total. Each graduate must be assigned to exactly one group.

Characteristic	Strata	Groups
Gender Identity	Female Male Other	Male bachelor's graduates, Female bachelor's graduates, Other bachelor's graduates Male master's graduates, Female master's graduates, Other master's graduates Male doctoral graduates, Female doctoral graduates, Other doctoral graduates
Degree	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate

Step 3: Decide on the sample size for each stratum

First, you need to decide whether you want your sample to be proportionate or disproportionate.

Proportionate versus disproportionate sampling

In proportionate sampling, the sample size of each stratum is equal to the subgroup's proportion in the population as a whole.

Subgroups that are less represented in the greater population (for example, rural populations, which make up a lower portion of the population in most countries) will also be less represented in the sample.

In disproportionate sampling, the sample sizes of each strata are disproportionate to their representation in the population as a whole.

You might choose this method if you wish to study a particularly underrepresented subgroup whose sample size would otherwise be too low to allow you to draw any statistical conclusions.

Sample size

Next, you can decide on your total sample size. This should be large enough to ensure you can draw statistical conclusions about each subgroup.

If you know your desired margin of error and confidence level as well as estimated size and standard deviation of the population you are working with, you can use a sample size calculator to estimate the necessary numbers.

Example: Sample size

Because you need to ensure your sample size of doctoral graduates is large enough, you decide to use disproportionate sampling.

Even though doctoral students make up a small proportion of the overall student population, your sample is about ⅓ bachelor's graduates, ⅓ master's graduates, and ⅓ doctoral graduates.

Step 4: Randomly sample from each stratum

Finally, you should use another probability sampling method, such as simple random or systematic sampling, to sample from within each stratum.

If properly done, the randomization inherent in such methods will allow you to obtain a sample that is representative of that particular subgroup.

Example: Random sampling

You use simple random sampling to choose subjects from within each of your nine groups, selecting a roughly equal sample size from each one.

You can then collect data on salaries and job histories from each of the members of your sample to investigate your question.

Frequently asked questions about stratified sampling

When should I use stratified sampling?

You should use stratified sampling when your sample can be divided into mutually exclusive and exhaustive subgroups that you believe will take on different mean values for the variable that you're studying.

Using stratified sampling will allow you to obtain more precise (with lower variance) statistical estimates of whatever you are trying to measure.

For example, say you want to investigate how income differs based on educational attainment, but you know that this relationship can vary based on race. Using stratified sampling, you can ensure you obtain a large enough sample from each racial group, allowing you to draw more precise conclusions.

Can I stratify by multiple characteristics at once?

Yes, you can create a stratified sample using multiple characteristics, but you must ensure that every participant in your study belongs to one and only one subgroup. In this case, you multiply the numbers of subgroups for each characteristic to get the total number of groups.

For example, if you were stratifying by location with three subgroups (urban, rural, or suburban) and marital status with five subgroups (single, divorced, widowed, married, or partnered), you would have 3 x 5 = 15 subgroups.

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

This Scribbr article

Thomas, L. (July 21, 2022). Stratified Sampling | Definition, Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/stratified-sampling/

Is this article helpful?

You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote...

guzmanyourpred74.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/stratified-sampling/

Share this post