Sampling may refer to: * Sampling (signal processing), converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal * Sampling (graphics), converting continuous colors into discrete color components * Sampling (music), the reuse of a sound recording in another recording ** Sampler (musical instrument), an electronic musical instrument used to record and play back samples *

Sampling (statistics) In statistics, quality assurance, and survey methodology, sampling is the selection of a subset (a statistical sample) of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population. Statisticians attempt ...

, selection of observations to acquire some knowledge of a statistical population * Sampling (case studies), selection of cases for single or multiple case studies *

Sampling (audit) Sampling risk is one of the many types of risks an auditor may face when performing the necessary procedure of audit sampling. Audit sampling exists because of the impractical and costly effects of examining all or 100% of a client's records or boo ...

, application of audit procedures to less than 100% of population to be audited *

Sampling (medicine) In medicine, sampling is gathering of matter from the body to aid in the process of a medical diagnosis and/or evaluation of an indication for treatment, further medical tests or other procedures. In this sense, the sample is the gathered matter ...

, gathering of matter from the body to aid in the process of a medical diagnosis and/or evaluation of an indication for treatment, further medical tests or other procedures. *

Sampling (occupational hygiene) Occupational hygiene (United States: industrial hygiene (IH)) is the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation (ARECC) of protection from hazards at work that may result in injury, illness, or affect the well being of work ...

, detection of hazardous materials in the workplace *Sampling (for testing or analysis), taking a representative portion of a material or product to test (e.g. by physical measurements, chemical analysis, microbiological examination), typically for the purposes of identification, quality control, or regulatory assessment. See

Sample (material) In general, a sample is a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount of that thing(s). The things could be countable objects such as individual items available as units for sale, or an uncou ...

. Specific types of sampling include: *

Chorionic villus sampling Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), sometimes called "chorionic ''villous'' sampling" (as "villous" is the adjectival form of the word "villus"), is a form of prenatal diagnosis done to determine chromosomal or genetic disorders in the fetus. It ent ...

, a method of detecting fetal abnormalities * Food sampling, the process of taking a representative portion of a food for analysis, usually to test for quality, safety or compositional compliance. (Not to be confused with Food, free samples, a method of promoting food items to consumers) *

Oil sampling Oil analysis (OA) is the laboratory analysis of a lubricant's properties, suspended contaminants, and wear debris. ''OA'' is performed during routine predictive maintenance to provide meaningful and accurate information on lubricant and machine con ...

, the process of collecting samples of oil from machinery for analysis *

Theoretical sampling Theoretical sampling is a process of data collection for generating theory whereby the analyst jointly collects codes and analyses data and decides what data to collect next and where to find them, in order to develop a theory as it emerges. The ini ...

, the process of selecting comparison cases or sites in qualitative research *

Water sampling Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water based on the standards of its usage. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance, generally achieved through tr ...

, the process of taking a portion of water for analysis or other testing, e.g. drinking water to check that it complies with relevant water quality standards, or river water to check for pollutants, or bathing water to check that it is safe for bathing, or intrusive water in a building to identify its source. * Work sampling, a method of estimating the standard time for manufacturing operations.

See also