What Quota is
In statistics, a quota is a predetermined number of observations or units from a population that are used to make inferences about the population. It is a type of sample used in survey research that involves assigning a predetermined number of observations to each subgroup in the population being studied.
Quota sampling involves the following steps:
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Determine the population of interest. This includes specifying the characteristics of the population (e.g., age, gender, race, etc.) that are relevant to the study.
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Determine the sampling frame. This is the list of all the individuals or units in the population that can be used for the study.
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Set quotas for each of the subgroups in the population. This involves deciding how many observations should be taken from each group in order to accurately reflect the characteristics of the population.
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Select a sample that meets the quotas. This involves randomly selecting individuals or units from the sampling frame that meet the quotas set for each subgroup.
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Collect data. Once the sample has been selected, data can be collected from each of the observations. This can be done through surveys, interviews, or other methods.
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Analyze data. Once the data has been collected, it can be analyzed to determine trends, patterns, and other insights about the population.
Examples
- Quotas are used in sampling to ensure that each population subgroup is adequately represented in the sample.
- Quotas can be used in survey research to limit the number of respondents from a certain demographic or geographic area.
- Quotas are often set in business to limit production or consumption of a certain product or service.
- Quotas are used in sports to limit the number of players from certain countries or regions.
- Quotas can be used in marketing research to ensure that data is collected from a diverse range of customers.