Question
What is the difference between sampling and non-sampling errors?
Solution
The purpose of the sample is to take an estimate of the population. Sampling error refers to the differences between the sample estimate and the actual value of a characteristic of the population. It is the error that occurs when you make an observation from the sample taken from the population.
The difference between the actual value of a parameter of the population and its estimate is the sampling error.
Non-sampling errors are more serious than sampling errors because a sampling error can be minimised by taking a larger sample. It is difficult to minimise non-sampling error, even by taking a large sample. This type of error arises from recording of incorrect response.
