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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY LECTURE 13 SAMPLING & PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS 1 Mazhar Hussain Dept of Computer Science ISP,Multan [email protected] ROAD MAP Introduction Chosing your research problem Chosing your research advisor Literature Review Plagiarism Variables in Research Construction of Hypothesis Research Design Writing Research Proposal Writing your Thesis Data Collection Data Representation Sampling and Distributions Paper Writing Ethics of Research 2 SAMPLING How to find average student age in the university? Ask each student and compute the average Randomly select 3 to 4 students from each discipline and find their average age – Estimation of the average age of student in the university 3 SAMPLING Why sampling? Efforts and resources required to carry out the study on the population Examples Average income of families living in a city Results of an election Opinion about the a problem 4 SAMPLING Sampling is the process of selcetion a few (a sample) from a bigger group (the sampling population) to become the basis for estimating or predicting the prevalence of an unknown piece of information, situation or outcome regarding the bigger group 5 RECAP – MEAN & STANDARD DEVIATION Mean/Average Standard Deviation On the average, how far the data values are from the mean 6 POPULATION VS SAMPLE 7 Gaussian Distribution Karl Friedrich Gauss 1777-1855 8 GAUSSIAN/NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION Most of the naturally occurring processes can be modeled by a bell shaped curve 9 GAUSSIAN/NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION The Gaussian probability distribution is perhaps the most used distribution in all of science. Sometimes it is called the “bell shaped curve” or normal distribution. N ( , 2 ) 1 p( x) e 2 ( x )2 2 2 = mean of distribution = standard deviation of distribution x is a continuous variable (-∞x ∞ 10 GAUSSIAN/NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION The area within +/- σ is ≈ 68% The area within +/- 2σ is ≈ 95% The area within +/- 2σ is ≈ 99.7% 11 GAUSSIAN/NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION Probability (P) of x being in the range [a, b] is given by an integral: b 1 P(a x b) p ( x)dx 2 a b e ( x )2 2 2 dx a Gaussian pdf with =0 and =1 12 95% of area within 2 Only 5% of area outside 2 GAUSSIAN/NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION Standard Normal Distribution 13 STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION Normal distribution with mean of zero and standard deviation of one Since mean and standard deviation define any normal distribution… Standard normal distribution can be used for any normally distributed variable by converting mean to zero and standard deviation to one—z scores 14 Z SCORES By itself, a raw score or X value provides very little information about how that particular score compares with other values in the distribution. A score of X = 53, for example, may be a relatively low score, or an average score, or an extremely high score depending on the mean and standard deviation for the distribution from which the score was obtained. If the raw score is transformed into a z-score, however, the value of the z-score tells exactly where the score is located relative to all the other scores in the distribution. 15 Z SCORES The process of changing an X value into a z-score involves creating a signed number, called a zscore, such that The sign of the z-score (+ or –) identifies whether the X value is located above the mean (positive) or below the mean (negative). The numerical value of the z-score corresponds to the number of standard deviations between X and the mean of the distribution. Thus, a score that is located two standard deviations above the mean will have a z-score of +2.00 16 Z SCORES In addition to knowing the basic definition of a zscore and the formula for a z-score, it is useful to be able to visualize z-scores as locations in a distribution. Remember, z = 0 is in the center (at the mean), and the extreme tails correspond to z-scores of approximately –2.00 on the left and +2.00 on the right. Although more extreme z-score values are possible, most of the distribution is contained between z = –2.00 and z = +2.00. 17 Z SCORES z-score for a sample value in a data set is obtained by subtracting the mean of the data set from the value and dividing the result by the standard deviation of the data set. NOTE: When computing the value of the z-score, the data values can be population values or sample values. Hence we can compute either a population zscore or a sample z-score. 18 Z SCORES The Sample z-score for a value x is given by the following formula: xx z s Where x is the sample mean and s is the sample standard deviation. 19 Z SCORES The Population z-score for a value x is given by the following formula: z x Where is the population mean and is the population standard deviation. 20 EXAMPLE Example: What is the z-score for the value of 14 in the following sample values? 3 8 6 14 4 12 7 10 Thus, the data value of 14 is 1.57 standard deviations above the mean of 8, since the z-score is positive. 21 EXAMPLE Dot Plot of the data points with the location of the mean and the data value of 14. 22 Z SCORE & PROBABILITY What is the probability of finding a value between 100 and 110? How to calculate this area using z scores? 23 Reading area under curve for z=1.55 Z SCORE CHART 0.9394 24 Z SCORE & PROBABILITY 0.45 0.40 P=1-0.9394 0.35 P=0.0606 P=.0606 0.30 0.9394 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 1.55 Probability of z>1.55 (Area in tail) 3.0 25 Z SCORE & PROBABILITY 0.45 0.40 0.35 P=.0606+.0606 P=.1212 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 -3.0 -2.0 -1.55 -1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.55 Probability of z>1.55 + z<-1.55 (Area in both the tails) 26 Z SCORE & PROBABILITY 0.45 0.40 P=.5-.0606=.4394 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 1.55 Probability of z>0 and z<-1.55 ) 3.0 27 EXAMPLE: 50 MEASURES OF POLLUTION Histogram 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 40.68 or e M 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 0 20 Frequency V a lu e F r e q u e n c y 20 0 25 3 30 5 35 6 40 8 45 13 50 5 55 6 60 3 65 1 M o re 0 Value 9.88 28 EXAMPLE: 50 MEASURES OF POLLUTION • Probability value > 45 45 40.68 z .4372 9.88 0.45 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 29 P=.3300 .4372 EXAMPLE: 50 MEASURES OF POLLUTION Probability from 35 to 45 • 35 40.68 z .5749 9.88 0.45 45 40.68 z .4372 9.88 0.30 0.40 0.35 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 -3 P=.2157+.1700=.3857 -2 -1 -.5749 P=.5-.2843=.2157 0 1 2 3 .4372 P=.5-.3300=.1700 30 Sampling 31 SAMPLING Pros Saves time Resources – financial, human Cons Not exact value for the population An estimate or prediction Compromise on accuracy of findings 32 SAMPLING – TERMINOLOGY Examples Average student age in the university Average income of families living in a city Results of an election Population or study population (N) The university students, families living in the city, electors Sample The small group of students, families or electors you chose to collect the required information 33 SAMPLING – TERMINOLOGY Sample size (n) Sampling design or strategy The way you select the students, families or electors Sampling unit or sampling element The number of entities in your sample Each student, family or elector in your study Sample statistics Your findings based on infomration obtained from your sample 34 SAMPLING – TERMINOLOGY Population Parameters Aim of research – find answers to research question for study population not the sample Use sample statistics to estimate answers to research questions in study population Estimates arrived at from sample statistics – population parameters Saturation Point When no new information is coming from your respondents 35 SAMPLING – TERMINOLOGY Sampling Frame A list identifying each student, family or elector in the study population 36 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Example – Four individuals A,B,C, D A = 18 years B = 20 years C = 23 years D = 25 years Average age (18+20+23+25) / 4 = 21.5 years Use a sample of two indivudals to estimate the average age of your study population (4 individuals) 37 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING How many possible combinations of two individuals? A and B A and C A and D B and C B and D C and D 38 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING A+B = 18+20 = 38/2 = 19.0 years A+C = 18+23 = 41/2 = 20.5 years A+D = 18+25 = 43/2 = 21.5 years B+C = 20+23 = 43/2 = 21.5 years B+D = 20+25 = 45/2 = 22.5 years C+D = 23+25 = 48/2 = 24.0 years In two cases – no difference between sample statistics and population parameters Difference – Sampling error 39 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Sample Sample Statistics Population Parameters Difference 1 19.0 21.5 -2.5 2 20.5 21.5 -1.5 3 21.5 21.5 0.0 4 21.5 21.5 0.0 5 22.5 21.5 +1.0 6 24 21.5 +2.5 40 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Principle I In majority of cases of sampling, there will be a difference between sample statistics and the true population parameters which is attribuatable to the selection of the units in the sample 41 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Instead of samples of two – take a sample of three Four possible combinations A+B+C = 18+20+23 = 61/3 = 20.33 years A+B+D = 18+20+25 = 63/3 = 21.00 years A+C+D = 18+23+25 = 66/3 = 22.00 years B+C+D = 20+23+25 = 68/3 = 22.67 years 42 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Sample Sample Statistics Population Parameters Difference 1 20.33 21.5 -1.17 2 21.00 21.5 -0.5 3 22.00 21.5 +0.5 4 22.67 21.5 +1.17 43 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Sample Sample Statistics Population Parameters Difference 1 19.0 21.5 -2.5 2 20.5 21.5 -1.5 3 21.5 21.5 0.0 4 21.5 21.5 0.0 5 22.5 21.5 +1.0 6 24 21.5 +2.5 Sample Sample Statistics Population Parameters Difference 1 20.33 21.5 -1.17 2 21.00 21.5 -0.5 3 22.00 21.5 +0.5 4 22.67 21.5 +1.17 -2.5 to +2.5 -1.17 to +1.17 44 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING The gap between sample statistics and population parameters is reduced Principle II The greater the sample size, the more accurate will be the estimate of the true population statistics 45 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Same Example – Different Data A =18 years B = 26 years C = 32 years D = 40 years Variable (age) – markedly different 46 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Estimate average using Samples of two Samples of three Difference in the average age: Sample size of 2: -7.00 to +7.00 years Sample size of 3: -3.67 to +3.67 years Range of difference is greater than previously calculated 47 PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING Principle III The greater the difference in the variable under study in a population for a given sample size, the greater will be the difference between the sample statistics and the true population parameters 48 FACTORS AFFECTING THE INFERENCE Principles suggest that two factors may influence the degree of certainity about the inferences drawn from a sample Size of sample Larger the sample size, the more accurate will be the findings The extent of variation in the sampling population Greater the variation in the study population w.r.t. the chracteristics under study, the greater will be the uncertainity for a given sample size 49 AIMS IN SELECTING A SAMPLE Achieve maximum precision in your estimate Avoid bias in selection Bias can occur if: Non-random sampling – consciously or unconsciously affected by human choice Sampling frame does not cover the sampling population accurately or completely A section of sampling population is impossible to find or refuses to cooperate 50 SAMPLING METHODS Probability Sampling Used to generate random/non-biased samples required for conducting inferential analyses Non-probability Sampling Used mostly in qualitative analysis Mixed Sampling 51 SAMPLING METHODS Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling Mixed Sampling 52 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Each element in the population has an equal and independent chance of selection in the sample Equal: Probability of selection of each element is the same Choice is not affected by other considerations – human preferences Independent: Choice of one element is not dependent upon the choice of another element Selection or rejection of one element does not affect the inclusion or exclusion of another 53 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Example – Equal Chance 80 students in the class 20 refuse to participate in your study Each of 80 students (population) does not have an equal chance of selection Sample is not representative of your class 54 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Example – Independence Three close friends in the class One is selected – Two are not Refuses to participate without friends Forced to chose all three or none Not independent sampling Inferences drawn from random samples can be generalized to the total sampling population 55 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Simple Random Sampling Fishbowl draw Computer program Table of random numbers Stratified Sampling Proportional Disproportional Cluster Sampling 56 SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING The Fishbowl Draw Small population Number each element on separate slips of paper for each element Put them in a box Pick out one by one until you get desired sample size Similar to lotteries Computer Program Write a program to select a random sample 57 SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING Table of random numbers Random Number Table 58 How to Use Random Number Tables ________________________________________________ 1. Assign a unique number to each population element in the sampling frame. Start with serial number 1, or 01, or 001, etc. upwards depending on the number of digits required. 2. Choose a random starting position. 3. Select serial numbers systematically across rows or down columns. 4. Discard numbers that are not assigned to any population element and ignore numbers that have already been selected. 5. Repeat the selection process until the required number of sample elements is selected. 59 How to Use a Table of Random Numbers to Select a Sample Your supervisor wants to randomly select 20 students from your class of 100 students. Here is how he can do it using a random number table. Step 1: Assign all the 100 members of the population a unique number.You may identify each element by assigning a two-digit number. Assign 01 to the first name on the list, and 00 to the last name. If this is done, then the task of selecting the sample will be easier as you would be able to use a 2-digit random number table. NAME Adam, Tan ……………… Carrol, Chan ………………. Jerry Lewis ………………. Lim Chin Nam ………………. Singh, Arun ………………. NUMBER 01 08 … 18 … 26 … 30 NAME Tan Teck Wah …………………… ………….. Tay Thiam Soon ……………….. Teo Tai Meng …………………. …………………… Yeo Teck Lan Zailani bt Samat NUMBER 42 … 61 … 87 … … 99 00 60 Step 2: Select any starting point in the Random Number Table and find the first number that corresponds to a number on the list of your population. In the example below, # 08 has been chosen as the starting point and the first student chosen is Carol Chan. Starting point: move right to the end of the row, then down to the next row row; move left to the end, then down to the next row, and so on. 10 09 73 25 33 76 37 54 20 48 05 64 08 42 26 89 53 19 90 01 90 25 29 09 12 80 79 99 70 80 66 06 57 47 17 34 31 06 01 08 05 45 Step 3: Move to the next number, 42 and select the person corresponding to that number into the sample. #42 – Tan Teck Wah Step 4: Continue to the next number that qualifies and select that person into the sample. # 26 -- Jerry Lewis, followed by #89, #53 and #19 Step 5: After you have selected the student # 19, go to the next line and choose #90. Continue in the same manner until the full sample is selected. If you encounter a number selected earlier (e.g., 90, 06 in this example) simply skip over it and choose the next number. 61 TABLE OF RANDOM NUMBERS Suppose you are using a table like this: 62 TABLE OF RANDOM NUMBERS Sampling population – 256 individuals Numbered from 1 to 256 You chose to select 10% - 25 individuals Randomly select any starting point Pick last three digits of the number Select the valid ones (001-256) and skip the invalid numbers (257-999) 63 DRAWING A RANDOM SAMPLE Two ways of selecting a random sample Sampling without replacement Sampling with replacement Example 20 students to be selected out of 80 First student is selected – Probability 1/80 For second student – 79 left, Probability 1/79 By the time you select the 20th – Probability 1/61 64 DRAWING A RANDOM SAMPLE Sampling without replacement Contrary to randomization – Each element should have equal probability of selection Sampling with replacement Selected element is replaced in the population If it is selected again – it is discarded 65 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Simple Random Sampling Fishbowl draw Computer program Table of random numbers Stratified Sampling Proportional Disproportional Cluster Sampling 66 STRATIFIED SAMPLING Step 1- Divide the population into homogeneous, mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive subgroups or strata using some stratification variable. Step 2- Select an independent simple random sample from each stratum. Step 3- Form the final sample by consolidating all sample elements chosen in step 2. 67 STRATIFIED SAMPLING Example Stratify on the basis of gender Two groups – male and female Select random samples from each group 68 STRATIFIED SAMPLING Stratified samples can be: Proportionate: involving the selection of sample elements from each stratum, such that the ratio of sample elements from each stratum to the sample size equals that of the population elements within each stratum to the total number of population elements. Disproportionate: the sample is disproportionate when the above mentioned ratio is unequal. 69 To select a stratified sample of 20 members of the Island Video Club which has 100 members belonging to three language based groups of viewers i.e., English (E), Mandarin (M) and Others (X). Step 1: Identify each member from the membership list by his or her respective language groups 00 (E ) 01 (E ) 02 ( X ) 03 (E ) 04 (E ) 05 (E ) 06 (M) 07 (M) 08 (E ) 09 (E ) 10 (M) 11 (E ) 12 ( X ) 13 (M) 14 (E ) 15 (M) 16 (E ) 17 ( X ) 18 ( X ) 19 (M) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 (M) (X) (E ) (X) (E ) (M) (E ) (M) (X) (E ) (E ) (E ) (E ) (M) (E ) (M) (E ) (E ) (X) (X) 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 (E ) (X) (X) (E ) (M) (E ) (X) (M) (E ) (E ) (E ) (M) (X) (M) (E ) (E ) (M) (E ) (M) (M) 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 (X) (M) (M) (E ) (E ) (X) (M) (E ) (M) (E ) (E ) (E ) (M) (E ) (X) (E ) (E ) (M) (M) (E ) 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 (M) (E ) (E ) (M) (X) (E ) (E ) (M) (X) (E ) (X) (E ) (M) (E ) (E ) (X) (E ) (E ) (M) (E ) 70 Step 2: Sub-divide the club members into three homogeneous sub-groups or strata by the language groups: English, Mandarin and others. EnglishLanguage Stratum 00 22 40 64 82 01 24 43 67 85 03 26 45 69 86 04 29 48 70 89 05 30 49 71 91 08 31 50 73 93 09 32 54 75 94 11 34 55 76 96 14 36 57 79 97 16 37 63 81 99 Mandarin Language Stratum 06 35 66 07 44 68 10 47 72 13 51 77 15 53 78 19 56 80 20 58 83 25 59 87 27 61 92 33 62 98 Other Language Stratum . 02 42 12 46 17 52 18 60 21 65 23 74 28 84 38 88 39 90 41 95 1. Calculate the overall sampling fraction, f, in the following manner: f = n = 20 = 1 = N 100 5 0.2 where n = sample size and N = population size 71 Determine the number of sample elements (n1) to be selected from the English language stratum. In this example, n1 = 50 x f = 50 x 0.2 =10. By using a simple random sampling method [using a random number table] members whose numbers are 01, 03, 16, 30, 43, 48, 50, 54, 55, 75, are selected. Next, determine the number of sample elements (n2) from the Mandarin language stratum. In this example, n2 = 30 x f = 30 X 0.2 = 6. By using a simple random sampling method as before, members having numbers 10,15, 27, 51, 59, 87 are selected from the Mandarin language stratum. In the same manner, the number of sample elements (n3) from the ‘Other language’ stratum is calculated. In this example, n3 = 20 x f = 20 X 0.2 = 4. For this stratum, members whose numbers are 17, 18, 28, 38 are selected’ These three different sets of numbers are now aggregated to obtain the ultimate stratified sample as shown below. S = (01, 03, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 27, 28, 30, 38, 43, 48, 50, 51, 54, 55, 59, 75, 87) 72 PROBABILITY SAMPLING Simple Random Sampling Fishbowl draw Computer program Table of random numbers Stratified Sampling Proportional Disproportional Cluster Sampling 73 CLUSTER SAMPLING Simple Random, Symmetric and Stratified sampling – based on researcher’s ability to identify each element in population Small population size – easy Large population – country Cluster sampling 74 CLUSTER SAMPLING Divide population into clusters Select elements wihtin each cluster Cluster formation Geographical proximity Common characteristic – similar to stratified sampling 75 STRATIFIED VS CLUSTER SAMPLING In startified sampling the target population is sub-divided into a few subgroups or strata, each containing a large number of elements. In cluster sampling, the target population is subdivided into a large number of sub-population or clusters, each containing a few elements. 76 AREA SAMPLING A common form of cluster sampling where clusters consist of geographic areas, such as districts, housing blocks or townships. Area sampling could be one-stage, two-stage, or multi-stage. How to Take an Area Sample Using Subdivisions Your company wants to conduct a survey on the expected patronage of its new outlet in a new housing estate. The company wants to use area sampling to select the sample households to be interviewed. The sample may be drawn in the manner outlined below. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Step 1: Determine the geographic area to be surveyed, and identify its subdivisions. Each subdivision cluster should be highly similar to all others. For example, choose ten housing blocks within 2 kilometers of the proposed site [say, Model Town ] for your new retail outlet; assign each a number. Step 2: Decide on the use of one-step or two-step cluster sampling. Assume that you decide to use a two-stage cluster sampling. Step 3: Using random numbers, select the housing blocks to be sampled. Here, you select 4 blocks randomly, say numbers #102, #104, #106, and #108. Step 4: Using some probability method of sample selection, select the households in each of the chosen housing block to be included in the sample. Identify a random starting point (say, apartment no. 103), instruct field workers to drop off the survey at every fifth house 77 (systematic sampling). SAMPLING METHODS Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling Mixed Sampling 78 NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING Do not follow probability theory Useful when the number of elements in population is unknown or cannot be individually identified Four common designs Quota Sampling Accidental Sampling Judgemental Sampling Snowball Sampling 79 QUOTA SAMPLING Main consideration – ease of access to sample population Guided by some visible chracteristic of study population – age, gender etc. Sample selection – location convenient to the researcher Whenever a person with required characteristic is seen – asked to participate in the study Process continues until the required number of respondents (quota) is reached 80 QUOTA SAMPLING - EXAMPLE Average age of male students in the university Select a sample of 20 male students You decide to stand at the entrance of the university - convenient Whenever a male student arrives – ask his age When you get 20 – Target is achieved 81 QUOTA SAMPLING Advantages Convenient Less expensive Disadvantages Not probability based May not be generalized to the population 82 ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING Also based on convenience Quota sampling – include people with some obvious characteristic Accidental sampling – no such attempt Common in market research and newspaper reporters Since you just pick up the people – may not get the required information 83 JUDGEMENTAL SAMPLING Judgement of the researcher as to who can provide the best information to achieve the objectives of the study Sampling based on some judgment, gut-feelings or experience of the researcher. 84 SNOWBALL SAMPLING Sample selection using network Start with few individuals or organizations and collect the information They are then asked to identify other participants – people selected by them become a part of sample The process continues…… 85 SAMPLING METHODS Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling Mixed Sampling 86 MIXED SAMPLING Systematic sampling Divide the frame into segments or intervals Select one element from first interval using SRS Select elements from subsequent intervals depending upon the element selected from the first interval Example 5th element selected from first element Select the 5th from each interval 87 SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING To use systematic sampling, a researcher needs: [i] A sampling frame of the population; . [ii] A skip interval calculated as follows: Skip interval = population list size Sample size Names are selected using the skip interval. If a researcher were to select a sample of 1000 people using the local telephone directory containing 215,000 listings as the sampling frame, skip interval is [215,000/1000], or 215. The researcher can select every 215th name of the entire directory [sampling frame], and select his sample. 88 Example: How to Take a Systematic Sample Step 1: Select a listing of the population, say the City Telephone Directory, from which to sample. Step 2: Compute the skip interval by dividing the number of entries in the directory by the desired sample size. Example: 250,000 names in the phone book, desired a sample size of 2500, So skip interval = every 100th name Step 3: Using random number(s), determine a starting position for sampling the list. Example: Select: Random number for page number. (page 01) Select: Random number of column on that page. (col. 03) Select: Random number for name position in that column (#38, say, A..Mahadeva) Step 4: Apply the skip interval to determine which names on the list will be in the sample. Example: A. Mahadeva (Skip 100 names), new name chosen is A Rahman b Ahmad. Step 5: Consider the list as “circular”; that is, the first name on the list is now the initial name you selected, and the last name is now the name just prior to the initially selected one. Example: When you come to the end of the phone book names (Zs), just continue on 89 through the beginning (As). CREDITS Chapter 12, Research Methodology, Ranjit Kumar Sampling in Market Research - APMF 90