Sampling is a process of statistical analysis. In the process of sampling a predefined number of observations are taken from the total overall population to perform test, take observations, take notes and view trends. There are a number of different methodologies to collect a small sample from a large population for the purpose of observation. The methodology used for the collection of the sample depends upon the type of observation that will be made from the final collected sample. The methodologies used to collect a sample from the population include random sampling, observation sampling, systematic sampling and many others. The sample is the representative of the large population irrespective of the type of the sampling methodology used to get a sample.
While collecting sample for observation from a random population it must be noted that the method of drawing sample is very important. To get the sample that is representative of the entire population of the observation it must be drawn randomly and it must encompass the entire product presented for sampling. For example the example of the random sampling can be a lottery system that determine the average age of the students within the university. This can be done by sampling ten percent of the student body available in the University for that Lottery Program. In this system the number of students from each faculty taken for the purpose of sampling must be equal and uniform.