Which sampling technique does the Bureau of the Census perform for the Department of Housing and Urban Development?

• A. Stratified sampling
• B. Random sampling
• C. Systematic sampling
• D. Cluster sampling

Answer: (A)

Stratified sampling is used to ensure the survey captures information from important subgroups and regions with precision. The Census divides the population into homogeneous subgroups (strata) that matter for HUD—such as geographic regions, urban vs. rural areas, or housing types—and then samples within each subgroup. This approach reduces variation within each stratum, so the estimates are more accurate overall and reliable for targeted HUD analyses (like regional housing conditions or program needs).

If you used simple random sampling, you might under- or over-represent some subgroups by chance, leading to less precise estimates for key HUD categories. Systematic sampling is efficient but can introduce bias if the data have hidden patterns aligned with the sampling interval. Cluster sampling lowers field costs but often increases overall sampling error because members within a cluster tend to be more similar to each other. Stratified sampling avoids these issues by ensuring all relevant subgroups are adequately represented while still combining to reflect the whole population.