Sampling is a convenient tool to gather information about a population, but it can be grossly misleading as well. State out the limitation of sampling in sociological analysis.

Importance of sampling

1. It reduces time consumed in the research.
2. large data about whole population is not easy to organise. while the sample's data is relatively less, hence easy to study and organise.
3. It is more practical.
4. KARL POPPER advocates that an untypical sample can falsify a theory.

Types of sampling

Limitations of sampling

1. Non representativeness: If sampling not done appropriately, it might not be representative of the population. It might distort the further research.

2. Not enough information about attributes of population: sampling methods like- stratified sampling and multi stage sampling may mislead the research if all attributes of population are not clear. For E.g. - married status of sample unit may not be clear from census (max sample population).

3. Non-Response from the sampling unit: Probabilistic sampling rely on randomly choosing people to study. Some people so selected might not respond. People having strong view about the issue are the one responding more. for e.g. people/sample unit having marriage issues may respond more in a research on marriage.

4. Distorted result: sampling methods like- snow balling which uses personal contacts to select a sample may be biased by the researcher.

5. multi stage sampling while more practical in many studies may not represent true picture. for eg. opinion polls in elections many times predict in wrong direction.

6. ALAN BRYMAN advocates that convenience sampling is more common today. But the personal bias of researcher may distort the whole research. for eg - a researcher might study only his friends who belong to a certain class.