Which of the following is a statistical sampling method?

• A. Simple random
• B. Stratified random
• C. Systematic grid
• D. Hot spot sampling

Answer: (C)

Systematic grid sampling is a structured approach that lays a grid over the study area and collects samples at regular grid points or along grid lines. This regular spacing ensures even coverage of the area, which helps detect spatial patterns and makes the sampling design repeatable. When you start at a random point and then follow the grid at fixed intervals, each grid location has a known probability of being included, so the method supports statistical inference and estimation of sampling error. That combination of defined probabilities and the ability to quantify uncertainty is what makes it a statistical sampling method.

In contrast, simple random sampling and stratified random sampling are classic probabilistic methods where units are chosen randomly according to known probabilities, often with allocation across strata. Hot spot sampling targets specific high-risk or suspected areas and isn’t designed to provide unbiased inferences about the whole area, so it’s not considered a general statistical sampling method in the same way. The grid approach blends systematic coverage with probabilistic foundations, which is why it’s identified as the statistical method here.