According to the authors of the book previously mentioned, they assert that the sampling process involves a seven-step process:
1. Defining the population 5. Picking the most effective sampling size
2. Selecting sampling units 6. Designing the sampling plan
3. Determining the sampling frame 7. Selecting the study sample
4. Choosing the sampling design
In essence, these seven-steps "designate critical activities" in the selection of any sample (Davis et. al. 243). Now that we have described the multiple steps involved in the process of sampling, a question arises: why use sampling in business research? The main reason why researchers utilize sampling statistics is to infer the characteristics of a particular population (243). Businesses implement sampling as an alternative for three main reasons:
1. Resource constraints: business must deal with issues such as time and money
2. Accuracy: good samples makes it easier to estimate the degree of error
3. Destructive measurement: measurement can be a destructive process and the "ability to sample and make inference is important to such cases" (243).
