Lottery method
Topic: Economic Data: Census, NSS, Surveys and Statistical Tools · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Collection of Data"
Meaning
The lottery method is a simple way of drawing a random sample. Each unit's name is written on a slip. The slips are mixed well, and the required number is drawn one by one. Every unit has an equal chance of being picked. The method needs a sampling frame first, which is a full list of all units. A random number table or a computer does the same job for large lists.
Example
NCERT's example studies the effect of a petrol-price rise on 300 households in a locality. All 300 names are written on slips, mixed, and 30 are drawn to form the sample.
Don't confuse with
- Non-random sampling: here, units are picked by the investigator's judgement or convenience, not by chance.
Related concepts
- Census
- Sample survey
- Population
- Sample
- Representative sample
- Population parameter
- Random sampling
- Non-random sampling
- Sampling frame
- Random number table