What is a Sampling Distribution?

A sampling distribution refers to a probability distribution that reflects that statistical results obtained from samples from a population can have different outcomes. This type of probability distribution is the distribution of a range of outcomes obtained from multiple samples that were drawn from a data population. A sampling distribution uses a statistic that is random-based.

How is a Sampling Distribution Used?

Different subsets of the same population are often referred to as samples. For example, when analysts, researchers, statisticians and academicians draw data for observation, the data drawn by these categories of experts are not the population, rather, they are samples. It is also important to know that these different individuals devise different approaches to data collection even if the subject of the analysis is the same. For instance, if there is a study on the child mortality rate, a statistician might collect data by focusing on the number of children death in different locations for a particular period while a researcher will go further by examining the cause of the marotality, among others. An analysts can also draw his data from the direction of which regions or state have the highest mortality rates. For every sample that the experts collect, there is a mean which is realized from the average of the computed number in each sample or subset. Sampling distribution refers to the distribution of the means. A sampling distribution also entails the allocation of a range of outcomes that can occur in all the samples or statistics of a population. A sampling distribution is often used due to the multiple sample sets drawn from a specific population.

Special Considerations

Given the fact that a specific population can have multiple and varying sample sets, a normal distribution becomes inappropriate and this gave rise to sampling distribution. Hence, a population with one sample or subset requires a normal distribution while a population with multiple sets attract sampling distribution. Below are some important points you should know about a sampling distribution;

• A sampling distribution is applicable when multiple samples or data sets are drawn from a specific population.
• Sampling distribution entails that distribution of a range of outcomes that are likely to occur when multiple samples are drawn from a specific population.
• Distribution of the sample means is known as the sample distribution.