OCCASIONAL SAMPLING IN RESEARCH: AN OVERVIEW

By

Sa’idu Sulaiman1

Date: May 15, 2009

Introduction

The fact that a researcher cannot study the entire population of people, animals, insects,
objects, etc, makes the drawing of samples a necessity. Sampling techniques are divided
into probability and non- probability sampling techniques. The former are used when a
population from which a sample is drawn is finite, the probability of selecting of a sample is
known and an estimate of the sampling error can be made. In the latter, the population from
which a sample is drawn is infinite, so the probability of selecting of a sample is unknown
and an estimate of the sampling error cannot be made.

Trochim (2006), submits that a probability sampling technique refers any method of
sampling that utilizes some form of random selection that requires some process or
procedure that assures that the different units in a population have equal probabilities of
being chosen in included in a research. In general, researchers prefer probabilistic or
random sampling methods, which they considered them to be more accurate and rigorous,
over the nonprobabilistic ones, but in applied social research there are situations where it is
practically impossible to do random sampling. Probability sampling techniques include
random sampling, systematic sampling, cluster sampling and stratified random sampling
(Sulaiman, 1998).

In a table of non- probability sampling techniques sourced from Lawrence W. Neuman by

Mohammed (2006), there four techniques namely, accidental, purposive, snowball and
quota sampling techniques. In the accidental sampling technique a researcher relies on
available subjects such as people passing by or sitting in a bus when drawing a sample, in
other words, the researcher gets cases in a convenient manner. Baily, (1994) also
discusses the non- probability sampling techniques which are similar to what the table
mentioned above contains. However, he calls accidental sampling convenience sampling
and adds dimensional sampling to the four non- probability sampling techniques, thus
making them five.
1
Sa’idu Sulaiman is currently a Chief Lecturer in Economics at the Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education,
Kano, Nigeria. E‐mail: saisulaiman@yahoo.com
This paper is aimed at introducing another non- probability sampling technique called
occasional sampling technique. It defines the technique and identifies the pros and cons of
adopting it in research.

Occasional sampling technique

Occasional sampling technique refers to the use of participants that attend an occasion
such as farmers at an agricultural exhibition, or academics at a national conference, as
sample of a population they represent. It is an occasion- based sampling technique so it is
pertinent for researchers to know the different categories of occasions that can provide
opportunities for research.

Occasions can be categorized by their nature of occurrence, for instance, there are rare
occasions like the visit of the Pope to a village in Eastern Nigeria; there are also annual
occasions like the pilgrimage to Mecca. Occasions could also be monthly like the meeting of
proprietors of private schools, or weekly, like village market days.

Another way of categorizing occasions is in terms of their theme, focus or subject matter.
Some occasions centre on sports while others are concerned with education, agriculture,
politics, economy and the rest. It is therefore essential for a researcher to consider the type
of occasion he/she plans to use for the purpose of drawing a research sample

Pros and cons of the Occasional Sampling Technique

Like every sampling technique, occasional sampling has pros and cons. The advantages
include the following:

a) It saves time and money as people can be found in a single place.

b) Depending on the nature of an occasion, people from different parts of the

entire globe, a country or state, can form part of the sample to be studied.

c) Sampled respondents are easily accessible as the procedure and modus

operandi for communicating with them are shorter compared to what obtain
when a researcher is to visit their homes or offices.
 d) Sampled respondents easily co-operate to take part in a study because they
seek recognition and attention during occasions, and may want to be heard of
by government or the general public.

e) The observations to be made by the researcher during an occasion,

demonstration of procedures and techniques, and exhibition of products, all
assist a researcher in verifying claims made by the sampled respondents.

The disadvantages of occasional sampling, on the other hand, include the following:

a) Only experienced researchers can design and conduct studies at a short

notice. Some occasions are made known to the public 3 to 7 seven days to
their occurrence so a researcher who needs to be guided by a supervisor
could not be able to use such occasions to design and conduct a study.

b) Even if a researcher has adequate notice as to when an occasion is taking

place, there are possibilities of postponement or cancellation, and these can
be a great source of frustration.

c) Occasions are not suitable for the use of interviews or questionnaires loaded
with many questions as people in attendance have many things to attend to.

Conclusion

Occasional sampling is appropriate for experienced researchers who can quickly spot
opportunities for undertaking a study provided by a special event. It could be used for the
conduct opinion surveys as well as for academic and marketing researches. Journalists can
also use this sampling technique in writing research- based articles or reports.
References

Bailey, Kenneth D. (1994) 4th ed. Methods of Social Research (New York: The Free Press).

Sulaiman, Sa’idu (1998) Researchers’ Companion: a Concise and Clear Introduction to

Research Methods (Kano: Samarib Publishers)

Mohammed, Isma’il Z. (2006) ‘Sampling in Social Science Research’ in Readings in Social

Science Research edited by Yusuf M. Adamu, Habu Mohammed and Kabiru Isa Dandago
(Kano: Adamu Joji Publishers and Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Bayero
University, Kano.)

Trochim, William M.K. (2006) Research Methods Knowledge Base retrieved from
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampnon.php visited on April 22, 2009.