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Health Services Research (HSR) Methods
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Cluster Sampling

A sampling strategy where the population of interest is divided into representative "clusters" of individuals, among whom a random selection of subjects is drawn. Cluster sampling is often conducted when it is impossible or impractical to draw a simple random sample or stratified sample because the researcher cannot get a complete list of members of the population.

Figure

Example

Further Reading
Gliner, J.A. and G.A. Morgan. 2000. Research Methods in Applied Settings, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

University of Glasgow. Statistics Glossary. Available at http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/alphabet.html .