Fundamentals of sample survey research: A statistical perspective

Abstract

Science is the most trustworthy way of acquiring reliable and valid knowledge about the natural world (Nayak and Singh, 2015: 6). The science of statistics is essentially a branch of Applied Mathematics, and may be regarded as mathematics applied to observational data (Fisher, 1934: 1). Statistics is a mathematical discipline that describes procedures for deriving results about a population from sample data (Romejin, 2011: 751). Data is collected by three techniques: Experiment, observation, and survey (Bülbül, 2006: 58). Experiment technique is a scientific test that is done to find out how something reacts under certain conditions, or to find out if a particular idea is true (Longman Dictionary, 2003: 548). Laboratory conditions needed for experiment is used mostly in physical and health sciences. Observation is the action of observing something or someone and involves the recording of data. The best way to know how people act and think is to observe them repeatedly and directly over time (Polland, 1998:1). However, it is not possible to follow all people, and to record their behaviors. Moreover, some kinds of behaviors such as attitudes, beliefs, and opinions cannot be observed directly (Polland, 1998:1). In the present case, researchers apply a practical research tool, which is known as a survey. A survey is an activity that collects information in an organized and methodical manner about the characteristics of interest from some or all units of a population using well-defined concepts, methods, and procedures, and.