SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
Is a probability sampling technique used in business research to select a sample from a
larger population in a structured manner
It involves choosing every element from a population after selecting a random starting point
It works in business research when defining the population, determining the sample size ,
calculating the sample interval
MERITS OF SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
• Flexibility; Systematic sampling can be used in variety of research settings
including surveys, experiments and observation studies. For example if the
population is large, A larger sampling interval can be used to reduce the
sample size
• Efficiency and simplicity; it is easy to understand and implement making it
practical for many research projects for example reduces sampling error as
every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected and
minimum training is required
• Ensures a representative sample; It evenly distributes selected units across
the entire population hence reducing the rise of clustering similar response
for example suppose we want to conduct a survey to understand the opinions
of students at a university about quality of food in the cafeteria
MERITS OF SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
• Cost effective; it saves time or resources by structured approach
rather than requiring a full list of randomized selection. For example A
market research firm wants to conduct a survey to understand
consumer behavior, they have a budget of 10000 and want to select a
sample of 10000 respondents, so they select every 10th respondent
from the list of the 10000 potential respondents. This approach saves
them 3000 in sampling costs
• Ensures data accuracy; A well spread sample reduces variability
leading to more consistent and reliable data insights, this helps in
making informed business decision based on well structured sampling
DEMERITS OF SYSTEMATIC
SAMPLING
• Pattern bias; if there is an underlined pattern and the population that
coincides with sampling interval, it can introduce bias into the sample.
For example if your sampling every 10th customer in a store and
customers tend to visit a store in predictable patterns , your sample
may not be representative
• Rigid sampling process; Systematic sampling doesn’t allow for flexibility
once the interval and starting point are set. If the initial random start /
interval isn’t appropriate, it can lead to bias results
• Data management challenges; For large populations, managing the data
ensuring accurate can be requiring sophisticated tools and careful
managing to avoid errors
DEMERITS OF SYSTEMIC SAMPLING
• Risk of missing variability; In diverse populations, systematic sampling
might miss out on capturing the full variability if the interval miss key
sub groups or variations within the population
• Non Randomness; Despite being a type of probability sampling, it can
sometimes be less random than other methods like simple random
sampling especially if the population has an inherent order
• It requires a complete population list. Businesses must have up to
date and a well structured list of the population which may not always
be available or accurate
