10 Examples of Cluster Sampling

The cluster sampling is a method of selecting a statistical sample in which a population is divided into groups, which have high level of representativeness of the whole, to later analyze all or some of the elements of one or several groups.

The conglomerates or groups must be previously divided, for example, they can be neighborhoods, and they must represent the heterogeneity of the population. In addition, it is necessary that they be homogeneous, that is, that they have similar characteristics to each other.

Sampling is used in statistics to determine how the elements of a sample will be selected, that is, from a part of the population that will allow inferences to be made about the whole.

This type of sampling is probabilistic, because it is possible to know the probability that the groups or elements have of being selected. In the case of cluster sampling, all groups have the same chance of being included in the sample, since it is a random technique.

This procedure has advantages, for example, it provides representative samples of very large populations or whose elements are widely separated and it is more efficient than other types of sampling, because it saves costs and weather.

However, it also has disadvantages, for example, it may be less representative than other types of sampling and it does not It is possible to apply it in all cases, because it is necessary to have prior knowledge of the population to be studied. analyze.

Cluster Sampling Steps

Types of cluster sampling

There are two types of cluster sampling, which differ according to the number of stages in the selection process:

Examples of cluster sampling

1. A group of researchers wants to study the characteristics of the machinery used in different factories. To perform the sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All the machines in the factories of a city are selected as the target population. Each factory will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that out of 87 factories, 5 clusters will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all factories is made.
• 5 factories are selected using a lottery method and all machinery found in those factories will be analyzed.

1. A research team from marketing wants to know the characteristics of customers who go to shopping centers. To perform the sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All customers of shopping centers are selected as the target population. Each mall will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that out of 456 shopping centers in the country, 23 conglomerates will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all shopping centers is made.
• 23 shopping malls are randomly selected and all customers who visit these places will be interviewed.

1. Some literature students have to do research on the publishing market. To carry out the statistical sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All publishers in the cities of a country are selected as the target population. Each city will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 23 cities, 5 clusters will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of cities is made.
• 5 cities are selected at random and with a simple random sampling, 3 publishers are chosen per city.

1. A group of researchers wants to know the characteristics of people who work in the business sector. To carry out the representative sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All employees of companies in the same country are selected as the target population. Each company will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 2,457 companies in the country, 62 conglomerates will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of companies is made.
• 62 companies are selected at random and with a simple random sampling, 30 employees are chosen from each one.

1. A government wants to know the characteristics of the households of the entire population of a country. To carry out the representative sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All households in a country are selected as the target population. Each neighborhood will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 457 neighborhoods in the country, 30 conglomerates will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all neighborhoods is made.
• 30 neighborhoods are randomly selected and with simple random sampling 200 households are selected from each neighborhood.

1. The Ministry of Economy of Mexico wants to know the productivity of the country, therefore, it must analyze different factories. To carry out the statistical sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All factories in the country are selected as the target population. Each federal entity will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 32 states, 5 conglomerates will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all federal entities is made.
• Five federal entities are randomly selected and all the factories of each conglomerate are analyzed.

1. The Spanish Ministry of Health is studying which are the most frequent diseases of the inhabitants of this country. To carry out the statistical sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All individuals in the country are selected as the target population. Each hospital will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 700 hospitals in this country, 50 clusters will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all hospitals in the country is made.
• 50 hospitals are randomly selected and the health status of all patients in each cluster is analyzed.

1. A group of biologists is studying the behavior of wolves. To carry out the representative sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All wolves in a region are selected as the target population. Each pack of wolves will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 47 herds in that region, 12 clusters will be needed to make the sample.
• A list of all packs is made.
• 12 packs are randomly selected and the behavior of all the wolves in the clusters is analyzed.

1. A team of agronomists is studying the effectiveness of wheat seeds. To carry out the representative sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All crop fields in a country are selected as the target population. Each state will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 45 states, 7 clusters will be needed to prepare the sample.
• A list of all states is made.
• 7 states are randomly selected and the production of 15 fields of each conglomerate is analyzed.

1. The Ministry of Education of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires is conducting a study on the books used in class. To carry out the representative sample, the steps of cluster sampling are followed:

• All books in the city are selected as the target population. Each school will be a conglomerate.
• It is estimated that of the 883 schools, 53 clusters will be needed to compile the sample.
• A list of all schools is made.
• 53 schools are randomly selected and all the books in each cluster are analyzed.

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