INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES ISSN:2320‐3137 124 www.earthjournals.org Volume 2 Issue 4 2013 Review Article FUNDAMENTALS OF APPLIED RESEARCH AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AJAY S. SINGH* ,MICAH B. MASUKU Department of AEM, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Luyengo M205, Swaziland. ABSTRACT Research is an inseparable part of human knowledge activity. Fundamentals of research and sampling techniques plays important role in diverse problems of applied sciences, agricultural sciences, health sciences, environment- related studies and business research. Many researchers are conducted by survey research. The technique of research, sampling and determination of sample size has crucial role in field investigation as well as survey-based research problems in applied research. Specific sampling techniques are used for specific research problems because one technique and sample size may not be appropriate for all problems. The present paper based on basic knowledge of research and some commonly used techniques of sampling and determination of sample size for specific purposes. Key words: Research Methods, Sampling, Sample Size, Level of Significance. INTRODUCTION: Research is a part of human knowledge and activity of solving problems as well as new invention. Research is also to develop theory and collect the evidences to test the generalization. But research should never be treated as piece of compilation of work. The selection of sampling methods and determination of sample size are extremely important in applied statistics research problems to draw correct conclusions. If the sample size is too small, even a well conducted study may fail to detect important effects or associations, or may estimate those impacts or associations too imprecisely. Similarly, if the sample size is too large, the study would be more complex and may even lead to inaccuracy in results. Sathian (2010) has pointed out that sample size determination is a difficult process to handle and requires the collaboration of a specialist who has good scientific knowledge in the art and practice of medical statistics [1]. Techniques for estimating sample size and performing power analysis depend mainly on the design of the study and the main measure of the study. There are distinct methods for calculating sample size for different study designs and different outcome measures. Additionally, there are also some different procedures for calculating the sample size for two approaches of drawing statistical inference from the study results on the basis of confidence interval approach and test of significance approach. The present paper, describe the fundamental of research and some commonly used terms and some techniques for determination of sample size, and also describes some sampling methods for specific research. Research: Research is always expected to something original or a piece of work that update of human knowledge. Research is defined as, discover the new facts or verify and to test the old facts. Research analyzes the