What is Simple Random Sampling?

• A. Every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected
• B. The sample is chosen by the researcher based on convenience
• C. Only clusters of the population are used
• D. Selection is based on specific traits

Answer: (A)

Simple Random Sampling means every member of the population has an equal chance to be included, and every possible group of the chosen size is equally likely to occur. This is usually done by assigning numbers to each member and using a random method (like a random number generator) to pick the required number of individuals. For example, if there are 100 students and you want 10, you would randomly select 10 distinct numbers from 1 to 100 and take the students with those numbers. This approach avoids bias that comes from picking those who are easiest to reach, or from selecting entire clusters, or from choosing people based on certain traits. In short, it’s about fair, unbiasedly chosen samples.