Sampling frame

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. ISBN 9780471442608. Retrieved 2 January 2011. ^{[page needed]}
^ Salant, Priscilla, and Don A. Dillman. "How to Conduct your own Survey: Leading professional give you proven techniques for getting reliable results" (1995)

[SärndalSwensson2003-1] 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.

[Jessen1978-2] Raymond James Jessen (1978). Statistical survey techniques. Wiley. ISBN 9780471442608. Retrieved 2 January 2011. ^{[page needed]}

[3] Salant, Priscilla, and Don A. Dillman. "How to Conduct your own Survey: Leading professional give you proven techniques for getting reliable results" (1995)

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