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Stratification Techniques

Definition

Stratification techniques involve dividing a population into homogeneous subgroups called strata based on certain characteristics. This helps ensure that each subgroup is represented proportionally in a sample, leading to more accurate and representative results.

Analogy

Imagine you're making a fruit salad, and you want to make sure it has an equal mix of different fruits. You decide to divide the fruits into groups based on their type (e.g., berries, citrus), and then take a proportional amount from each group. This way, your fruit salad will have a balanced representation of all types of fruits.

Related terms

Cluster Sampling: Cluster sampling involves dividing the population into clusters or groups and randomly selecting entire clusters for inclusion in the sample.

Systematic Sampling: Systematic sampling involves selecting every nth individual from a population after randomly choosing a starting point.

Proportional Allocation: Proportional allocation is a method where the sample size for each stratum is determined based on its proportionate representation in the population.