ABSTRACT
To draw a simple random sample, first obtain a list of all members of the population of interest. Then, draw the sample in such a way that each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. One way to give each member of the population an equal chance of being selected is to put the names of all members of a population on slips of paper, thoroughly mix the slips, and then draw some. The most important characteristic of a simple random sample is that it is free of bias because it is selected at random and not on the bases of biases of the researcher or potential subjects. Using simple random sampling ensures that a sample is free of bias, but it does not ensure that it is free of errors. However, the errors that simple random sampling creates are random errors, which can be evaluated with statistical methods.
