QUICK GUIDE 6 - OPERATIONALIZE KEY STATELESSNESS CONCEPTS selection probabilities. A sampling frame is the set of source material from which the sample is selected. A sampling frame is also the means for choosing the particular members of the study population that are to be included in the survey. The most important objectives of a good sampling frame are comprehensiveness and accuracy. Comprehensiveness refers to the degree to which the sampling frame covers the entire population. Accuracy refers to the degree to which the sampling frame includes correct information about the elements of the target population that it covers. Constructing a comprehensive and accurate sampling frame can be particularly challenging for hidden populations such as stateless groups and can require as much, if not more, effort and resources as the survey. Some examples for constructing a list of all stateless persons in a country or region include: using census data (if up-to-date), conducting a listing exercise (ideally in cooperation with the National Statistics Office), or enlisting the assistance of an NGO to identify stateless persons or the areas in which they are known to live. Quick Guide 6 HOW TO OPERATIONALIZE KEY STATELESSNESS CONCEPTS WHEN COLLECTING DATA ON STATELESSNESS Random sampling techniques can be contrasted with non-random sampling for which the selection probabilities are unknown. Such methods include convenience sampling and snowball sampling. Non-random sampling generally does not allow for generalisation of survey findings to a larger population and should only be used if random sampling is not feasible. 52 U N H C R > R E S E A R C H I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S - Q U I C K G U I D E S U N H C R > R E S E A R C H I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S - Q U I C K G U I D E S 53