Courses Bachelor Display 2024-2025

Course Description To PDF
Course title Sampling Design
Course code EBS2037
ECTS credits 4,0
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
6 23-6-2025 6-7-2025 C
Level Introductory
Coordinator Jan van den Brakel
For more information: j.vandenbrakel@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
-Understand why designs like stratified sampling are often more informative than simple random sampling.
-Learn to recognize the opportunities to apply more advanced sampling designs in practical situations.
-Learn to implement different sampling designs, and process their outcomes.
Description
Marketing researchers often draw samples in order to infer the opinions of a client population. This is very practical, but since only a small part of the population is observed, the results are subject to inaccuracy. Of course, we want the sample results to be as close as possible to the true values. The most straightforward way to draw a sample is simple random sampling, where every population member has the same chance of being sampled. However, sometimes more complex sampling designs (e.g. stratified samples) are much better. "Better" in the sense of value-for-money: they allow us to make more accurate statements at the same cost, or to reach a desired level of accuracy at lower cost, than simple random sampling. This course focuses on the statistical aspects of various sampling designs. The objective is to construct appropriate sampling designs in real life situations. During the first half of the course, some theory is introduced, and tested by small numerical assignments. During the second half, a sampling design is developed for a practical situation and the actual sampling is conducted. The samples are drawn from a given data set which serves as population: the course does not involve the construction of a questionnaire and the actual gathering of data.
Literature
A translated and adapted version of Theorie en Praktijk van het Steekproefonderzoek by J.G. Bethlehem, 1st ed., CBS, Voorburg (to be made available through Canvas ).
Prerequisites
This course is in transition for the bachelor Fiscal Economics.
See the Bachelor Education and Examination Regulations for more information.

The following rule applies to bachelor Fiscal Economics students.
TRANSITIONAL REGULATION (EBS2037):
The bachelor Fiscal Economics has been discontinued.

There will be repeat education for year 1 and year 2 courses up to and including academic year 2025-2026 and exam-only up to and including academic year 2026-2027. For year 3 courses there will be repeat education up to and including 2026-2027 and exam-only up to and including academic year 2027-2028.

Whether a course is in transition, cancelled, or replaced may depend on the cohort you are in. Sometimes there are additional criteria. It is therefore very important to carefully read the EER and any addendum so you can apply the rules to your individual situation.


PREREQUISITES:
Basic principles from inferential statistics as discussed in typical first-year Quantitative Methods courses such as QM1 (code EBC1005/1006/1007) and QM2 (code EBC1033/1034/1035): basic probability theory, population versus sample, sampling distribution, point estimation, confidence intervals, type I error, regression analysis.
An advanced level of English.
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Assignment / Groupwork
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Attendance / Participation
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Economics Year 2 Elective Skill(s)
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Economics and Management of Information Year 2 Elective Skill(s)
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - International Business Economics Year 2 Elective Skill(s)
Bachelor Fiscal Economics Transitional Regulation
Bachelor International Business Year 2 Elective Skill(s)
SBE Exchange Bachelor Bachelor Exchange Skills
SBE Exchange Master Bachelor Exchange Skills
SBE Non Degree Courses Bachelor Skills