Which statement describes simple random sampling?

Which statement describes simple random sampling?

• A. It relies on predetermined grid intervals
• B. It relies on background information and professional judgment
• C. It relies on random chance to select locations
• D. It divides the area into strata

Answer: (C)

Simple random sampling means every possible location has the same chance of being chosen, and the selection is driven purely by random chance rather than any planning or prior information. In practice, you’d assign numbers to all locations and use a random number generator to pick which ones to sample, ensuring each location is equally likely to be included. This is why the statement that fits best is that it relies on random chance to select locations. The other approaches describe different sampling methods: using predetermined grid intervals is systematic sampling, relying on background information and professional judgment is judgment (or purposive) sampling, and dividing the area into strata is stratified sampling—each method serves different goals and operates with different rules than simple random sampling.

Simple random sampling means every possible location has the same chance of being chosen, and the selection is driven purely by random chance rather than any planning or prior information. In practice, you’d assign numbers to all locations and use a random number generator to pick which ones to sample, ensuring each location is equally likely to be included. This is why the statement that fits best is that it relies on random chance to select locations. The other approaches describe different sampling methods: using predetermined grid intervals is systematic sampling, relying on background information and professional judgment is judgment (or purposive) sampling, and dividing the area into strata is stratified sampling—each method serves different goals and operates with different rules than simple random sampling.