The Role of Statistics and Sampling in Survey Research

Abstract

This work titled, “The Role of Statistics and Sampling in Survey Research,â€critically examines the place of statistics and sampling in survey research. Thedata collection was done through secondary sources. Our main objective was tointerrogate the vital role played by the two concepts of statistics and sampling insurvey research. Thomas Hobbes rightly asserted that lack of knowledge madethe life of man “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and shortâ€. It is knowledge thatmakes the life of man in society worth living and statistics and sampling are twoof the most important tools used by man to generate information necessary forhim to make and implement rational decisions. Programmes and actions hingedon the outcome of statistical and carefully sampled survey research usuallydeliver predictable outcomes. This paper looks into the ways statistics andsampling in survey research can be utilized as tools of enquiry and informationgathering.