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Discover ECPR's Latest Methods Course Offerings

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in person

In person icon Sampling in Social Sciences

Member rate £527.50
Non-Member rate £1055.00

Save £45 Loyalty discount applied automatically*
Save 5% on each additional course booked

* If you attended our Methods School during the calendar years 2024 or 2025, you qualify for £45 off your course fee.

Course Dates and Times

Date: Thursday 21 – Friday 22 August and Tuesday 26 – Thursday 28 August 2025
Location: Online and Leontos Sofou Building, CITY College
Time: 13:30 – 17:00 EEST

Vasileios Ismyrlis, course instructor for Sampling in Social Sciences at ECPR's Research Methods and Techniques
Vasileios Ismyrlis

vismyrlis@aegean.gr

University of the Aegean

This course includes FREE observer access to the General Conference 2025!

This course offers an introductive view into sampling methodologies which are crucial for the design of research based on extracting data from subjects. It is suitable for every researcher who needs an intrοduction to sampling methods, like bachelor, post-graduate or PhD students, and professionals. The course is limited to a maximum of 16 participants, ensuring that the teaching team can address the unique needs of each individual. 

ECTS Credits

3 ECTS credits awarded for engaging fully in class activities.
1 additional ECTS credit awarded for completing a post-course assignment.

Instructor Bio

Vasileios Ismyrlis is an Assistant Professor specialising in 'Total Quality Management in Tourism' at the Department of Tourism Economics and Management of the University of the Aegean. He held the position of Statistician at the Greek Statistical Authority (EL.STAT) for ten years. He's been an administrative employee in the social insurance institute IKA-ETAM for eleven years. He also has two years of experience in a bank, along with experience teaching financial and statistical lessons in vocational post-secondary education and universities. 

He graduated with a 'Statistics and Insurance Sciences' degree from the University of Piraeus. His postgraduate studies are in the field of 'Quality Assurance'. He obtained his Ph.D. in 'Quality management and Multidimensional statistics' from the Department of Business Administration of the University of Macedonia, Greece. He's authored eighteen journal articles and conference proceedings publications and has over 10 years of experience teaching statistics and management courses.  

Vasileios' current research interests include: multidimensional statistics, applied statistics, social statistics, economics in tourism, human resources management, quality management, and research methodology.  

For more information, visit: https://www.tourem.aegean.gr/en/vasileios-ismyrlis and www.vismyrlis.gr.  

Purpose of the course

The course covers key elements of sampling design and methodologies in order to provide participants with the appropriate tools to begin their sampling procedure that is essential for their research. By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of the key concepts and techniques covered, as well as practical experience in their application. Case studies, examples, and exercises will cover all the content of the program. 

Key topics covered 

  •  A short review of the theory of sampling will be presented. In what cases is it applied and its role in revealing some characteristics of the population. 
  • You will learn how to define the population that you are interested in, how to find and design sampling frames, and their significance in selecting the sample.
  • The most important methods of sampling will be presented.  
  • You will choose the appropriate sampling technique according to your research, and the availability of the sampling objects/subjects. 
  • The sampling procedure brings in place many ethical issues that must be confronted. The most important issues and their solutions will be examined.
  • You will comprehend how a researcher can estimate errors and biases in sampling, and which of them can be critical in the significance of the research.
  • Some other issues that can affect the significance of the research will be presented, such as the size of the sample, percentage of response, etc. 
  • A review of all the issues presented will be realised with exercises and real case examples.

How the course will work

The course is structured into five live sessions, each lasting 3 hours. The first two sessions will take place online on Thursday 21 August and Friday 22 August. The remaining three sessions will take place at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on Tuesday 26 - Thursday 28 August. You must attend all sessions to complete the course.

There will be a combination of theory and practice. Each session includes several questions and exercises. Specific sources for data and other statistical issues, will be presented such as:  

At the end of each unit there will be a discussion to explain all questions of the participants. Some additional material will be presented such as case studies, examples, and exercises. 

This course provides the basic principles and practices of sampling in social sciences. Consequently, prior training in the foundations and principles of research methodology is recommended, but not required. All subjects are to be explained and practiced over the duration of the course.