Question

A newspaper and magazine publisher in SE Queensland wished to compare its magazine popularity with its competitors. To obtain the sample, the consultant divided the region into 60 subregions then chose 3 of these at random. The selected subregions were further divided into 250 classification units, of which 4 were selected at random. Within each of these, all of the households were sampled. This sampling method is an example of: nonprobability sampling simple random sampling systematic sampling stratified sampling cluster sampling

Answer 1

Cluster sampling is a method in which the population is divided into different clusters thereafter fr them various random samples are collected.

Here, first the regions were divided into 60 subregions ie a cluster has been made of the population. Thereafter, 3 regions were chosen at random. So, this a cluster method of sampling. Thereafter, again the same cluster method is being followed. The sub regions were first divided into 250 classification units that means the sub regions have been clustered into sub regions methodically. Then 4 sub regions were selected at random. Again here the cluster method is being approached. Firstly, the sub regions were divided into clusters then a random sampling has taken place.

Here, the cluster sampling has been taken place in two different parts. First, while dividing the region and choosing the sub region. Second, while dividing the sub regions into classification units then to choose the classification units.

Thereafter, all the households were sampled.

This method is of cluster sampling method.

The answer could also be non probability sampling as no probability value has been assigned. But the cluster method seemed more appropriate here as a clustering has been taken place.

It could not have been dimple random sampling as the regions are being clustered methodically. Thereafter, the sub regions were also clustered into classifications methodically.

Systematic sampling does not imply any random method, but here, the random method of choosing samples have been used, so it cannot be systematic sampling.

In stratified sampling the population is being divided into different strata then the samples are being chosen, but here the samples are being clustered into.

Hence, cluster sampling method seems to be the most appropriate method among all the methods stated here in the options.