INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

SUBMITTED BY: AtiqaShakeel
SUBMITTED TO: ma’am Fauzia Ajmal
SUBJECT: Educational Research
DATED: 9-05-2016
B.edhons. (Sec edu)
5th semester
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Education

Cluster Sampling

Definition: Cluster sampling is the sampling method where different groups within a population are used as a sample. This is different from stratified sampling in that you will use the entire group, or cluster, as a sample rather than a randomly selected member of all groups. Cluster Sampling is a sampling technique used when "natural" but relatively heterogeneous groupings are evident in a statistical population. It is often used inmarketing research. In this technique, the total population is divided into these groups (or clusters) and a simple random sample of the groups is selected. The elements in each cluster are then sampled. If all elements in each cluster are sampled, then this is referred to as a "one-stage" cluster design. If a simple random subsample of elements is selected within each of these groups, this is referred to as a "two-stage" design. A common motivation for cluster sampling is to reduce the total number of interviews and costs given the desired accuracy. Assuming a fixed sample size, the technique gives more accurate results when most of the variation in the population is within the groups, not between them.
Cluster elements:
The population within a cluster should ideally be as heterogeneous as possible, but there should be homogeneity between cluster means. Each cluster should be a small-scale representation of the total population. The clusters should be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. A random sampling technique is then used on any relevant clusters to choose which clusters to include in the study. In single-stage cluster sampling, all