However, cluster sampling methods tend to be less efficient than either simple random sampling methods or stratified sampling method and often require a larger sample size. Cluster sampling occurs when researchers randomly sample people within groups or clusters the people already belong to. Vital Information To understand this technique and its benefits, you need to understand the definitions given below: Cluster Sampling Definition. Read more about this topic: Cluster Sampling, “The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. Cluster sampling is commonly used for its practical advantages, but it has some disadvantages in terms of statistical validity. That’s why cluster, convenience, and stratified sampling methods quickly fall out of favor when compared to this process. Multi-stage sampling is a type of cluster samping often used to study large populations. The processes of systematic sampling create an advantage here because the selection method is at a fixed distance between each participant. The purpose of sampling theory is to make sampling more efficient. Cluster sampling, a cost-effective method in comparison to other statistical methods, refers to a variant of sampling method in which the researchers rather than looking at the entire set of the available data, distribute the population into individual groups known as clusters and select random samples from the population to analyze and interpret results. Disadvantages of sampling may be discussed under the heads: Chances of bias Disadvantages of sampling. Pros and Cons: External validity: The random nature of selecting clusters allows researchers to generalize from the sample to the entire population being studied. The reliability of the sample depends upon the appropriateness of the sampling method used. Cluster Sampling. Cluster sampling is a probability sampling where the researcher divides the population into separate groups, called clusters. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.”—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (18741936). But the real difficulties lie in selection, estimation and administration of samples. Higher sampling error, which can be expressed in the so-called "design effect", the ratio between the number of subjects in the cluster study and the number of subjects in an equally reliable, randomly sampled unclustered study. Disadvantage. Then, a simple random sample of clusters is selected from the population. 5. Advantages/merits and disadvantages/demerits of the cluster random sampling: Merits: Higher sampling error, which can be expressed in the so-called "design effect", the ratio between the number of subjects in the cluster study and the number of subjects in an equally reliable, randomly sampled unclustered study. This method creates an even distribution of members to form samples. Disadvantages of sampling. Some cluster sampling advantages are given in this article, along with the uses of this technique and its disadvantages as well. Advantages Cluster sampling is time- and cost-efficient, especially for samples that are widely geographically spread and would be …