Determining the Standard Rural Population and Household Sample Sizes for Questionnaire Survey Focusing Transport Accessibility

Abstract

This study was conducted to procure authentic data, required to resolve transport accessibility problems of rural households of the Badin sub-region, Pakistan. Over the years, transport accessibility issues, i.e. travel delays and impedance hindered local residents in performing their daily routine activities and caused socioeconomic deprivation. To clarify the research problems and to resolve them, standardized data needed to be collected from the study area. Thus, the aim of this study was to find out the standard household and population sample sizes for the questionnaire survey, centering the household’s transport accessibility information, i.e. travel mode, distance, time, household income and size, etc. The United Nations standards, i.e. 10% of the total rural population, and mathematical illustrations were followed to determine population and household sample sizes. The sample proportions were determined effectively, i.e. 760 households and 88,350 inhabitants, which backed in conducting a questionnaire survey and interviews from household heads. Henceforth, modified probability sampling technique was adopted for the survey proceedings, and the number of 100 questionnaires was filled from the study area along with interviews from household heads.