In statistics, a sampling frame is the source material or device from which a sample is drawn.[1] It is a list of all those within a population who can be sampled, and may include individuals, households or institutions.[1]
Importance of the sampling frame is stressed by Jessen[2] and Salant and Dillman.[3]
In many practical situations the frame is a matter of choice to the survey planner, and sometimes a critical one. [...] Some very worthwhile investigations are not undertaken at all because of the lack of an apparent frame; others, because of faulty frames, have ended in a disaster or in cloud of doubt.
— Raymond James Jessen
A slightly more general concept of sampling frame includes area sampling frames, whose elements have a geographic nature. Area sampling frames can be useful for example in agricultural statistics when a suitable and updated agricultural census is not available. In environmental surveys, area sampling frames may be the only option.
- ^ a b Carl-Erik Särndal; Bengt Swensson; Jan Wretman (2003). Model assisted survey sampling. Springer. pp. 9–12. ISBN 978-0-387-40620-6. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Raymond James Jessen (1978). Statistical survey techniques. Wiley. p. 160. ISBN 9780471442608. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Salant, Priscilla, and Don A. Dillman. "How to Conduct your own Survey: Leading professional give you proven techniques for getting reliable results" (1995)