Sampling for surveys: Clustered random sampling

These instructional videos provide a guide and examples of how to apply clustered random sampling.

In cluster sampling, a population of interest is first divided into ‘clusters’ (for example, a population divided into geographic regions, household income levels, etc.). From each cluster, individual subjects are selected by random sampling.

Using multi-stage cluster sampling, investigators can divide these first-stage clusters further into second-stage clusters using a second element (for example, first ‘clustering’ a total population by geographic region and next dividing each regional cluster into second-stage clusters by neighbourhood). Multi-stage sampling begins first with the construction of the clusters. Next, the investigator identifies which elements to sample from within the clusters, and so on, until they are ready to survey.

The videos below address single-stage and multi-stage clustered random sampling methods.

Clustered random sampling video

This video explains the process of creating a clustered random sample.

 

Clustered random sampling Stata walkthrough

This video describes how to use the software program Stata to create a clustered random sample.

Sources

IDinsight. (2021). Clustered random sampling and Clustered random sampling in Stata. Retrieved from: https://sites.google.com/idinsight.org/bootcamp/lessons/7-sampling-for-surveys

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