Judgmental Sampling: An Effective but Less-talked Method

Judgmental sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where the members are chosen based on a researcher’s previous knowledge and judgment. Undoubtedly, while conducting a survey— a researcher’s knowledge is crucial in finalizing the best possible survey technique to obtain the desired result. It also takes into its purview a highly accurate minimum error of margin.

Researchers must be careful in selecting and choosing the individuals to participate in this survey using this survey sampling method.

The effectiveness of a survey of this kind is highly dependent upon the researchers’ stock of knowledge.

When to Apply Judgment Sampling Survey

Judgmental Sampling techniques are employed in such situations where the target population is a cluster of highly educated people.

Generally, a pool of highly intellectual people prefer to avoid taking part in any survey coming their way.

To attract a group of such individuals in any survey, a surveyor needs to minutely craft the questionnaire, keeping it to the point and high quality as possible. Experts can only ensure these qualities when drafting a survey.

Nuances While Applying Judgmental Sampling

It is important to note, however, that judgmental surveys have a wide range of applications. Additionally, it can be applied to certain audiences not amenable to being assessed using probability or nonprobability sampling methods.

It is also used in certain situations where a selected sample cluster, jotted down with the help of other means of a survey, needs to get approved or filtered.

To simplify the stated situation, let us imagine an example of convenience sampling, using which professors from various universities furnished their answers. Such surveys have a high risk of yielding skewed results. A secondary survey employing the Judgmental Sampling method is typically carried out if researchers encounter such a scenario. Inconsistencies in the results can be uncovered and fixed with the aid of judgment sampling.

A Piece of Additional Information: 

In well-drafted judgmental surveys, researchers believe that professors, bureaucrats, ministers, CEOs, and other white-collar people will only give genuine answers.

The Advantage of Judgmental Sampling

1. It Takes Less Time to Sampling Judgments 

With the help of Judgment Sampling, researchers can easily collect data and conduct effective interviews to collect hands-on data. Due to the low subject volume, the sampling survey has provisions for holding focus groups.

2. Enables Researchers to Access Target Population Better 

Experts supervise the process of judgmental sampling. As a result, it is extremely precise and only targets the population in question. Random people cannot enter responses. 

Therefore, the researchers access a better cluster of specific audiences via judgmental sampling. They don’t have to hop hither and tither to jot down desired information.

The Disadvantage of Judgmental Sampling

Each sample survey of this genre is based on the discretion of a researcher. In Judgment Sampling, there always looms a threat of human error.

The study’s results may be biased whenever a researcher commits a mistake.

Researcher bias or Experimental Bias is a common concern for judgment sampling. Researcher bias should be avoided at any cost— because it questions the validity of a study. There are means that researchers should mindfully adhere to make sure such mistakes are avoided at any cost.

An Example of Judgmental Sampling

The below is a common example that can contextualize the anchor of Judgmental Sampling. 

Let us think of a group of professors who want to study the pattern of ‘Learning’ among their students. These professors teach English Literature at a university.

The professors are keen to know how the students make use of dictionaries. 

Do they use it while learning official texts prescribed in their syllabus? Or, they use it whenever they come across an unknown word—irrespective of whether it comes from a prescribed text or somewhere else!

If they use their common sense, they’ll limit the survey to English majors. The first reason is that they are literature teachers, and literature students utilize vocabulary more actively than students in any other field.

In such a situation, instructors would likely use a judgmental sampling technique.

Conclusion

Indeed, judgment sampling is a highly complex survey method. This survey was created for and with the help of professionals. Similar to other survey methods, this one has numerous benefits and few drawbacks.

The use of a judgemental survey requires nothing more than the keen talent and penetrating eye of a researcher. If used correctly, a Judgment Survey will help you acquire the answers you need by providing you with trustworthy data.