| Sumario: | The article discusses the problems of sampling in connection with studies of family economies. In this article the author briefly discusses four types of problems: First, Problems in connection with sampling inherent in the method of collecting the data. Second, problems arising in the process of collection. Third, problems in connection with selecting the sample, and fourth, problems of measuring the reliability of the sample. The first set of problems arises because the best method for securing accurate responses is not the best method of getting representative groups of families. It was understood that cooperation in socio-economic studies involves more effort on the part of wealthy than of poor families, since wealthy families have much more to report. Measurements of reliability is associated with fluctuations due to random sampling. Any random sample, no matter how carefully selected, tends to differ to some degree in its composition from the composition of the whole body of data from which it is selected. While concluding, the author suggests that the representatives of the sample must be tested by empirical methods, as described in the article.
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