Sampling algorithms. (Q2488570)

On the backcover, the purpose of present book is described as follows: ``Over the last few decades, important progresses in the methods of sampling have been achieved. This book draws up an inventory of new methods that can be useful for selecting samples. Forty-six sampling methods are described in the framework of general theory. The algorithms are described rigorously, which allows implementing directly the described methods. This book is aimed at experienced statisticians who are familiar with the theory of survey sampling.'' The book is divided into nine chapters: Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview. Chapter 2: Population, Sample, and Sampling Design. Chapter 3: Sampling Algorithms Chapter. 4: Simple Random Sampling. Chapter 5: Unequal Probability Exponential Designs. Chapter 6: The Splitting Method. Chapter 7: More on Unequal Probability Designs Chapter. 8: Balanced Sampling. Chapter 9: An Example of the Cube Method. While Chapter 1 is of introductory nature, Chapter 2 prepares the background for the subsequent development. Chapter 3 presents general algorithms such as martingale algorithms, sequential algorithms, draw by draw algorithms, and so on. Topics covered in Chapter 4 include simple random sampling with and without replacement, and Bernoulli sampling with replacement. Sampling designs such as Poisson, multinomial, and conditional Poisson are discussed in Chapter 5 which also indicates the links among exponential designs and between exponential designs and simple designs. Chapter 6 is devoted to the splitting method; the cases of splitting into two and several vectors are studied. Further topics in unequal probability designs, like various kinds of systematic sampling and Sampford's rejective procedure, form the subject matter of Chapter 7. Methods of balanced sampling are developed in Chapter 8. Methods for equal inclusion probabilities as well as the cube method are described. The latter method is illustrated in Chapter 9. The book is well-organized and lucidly written. It maintains a very high level of mathematical rigor and, at the same time, its contents have direct practical applicability. The numerous examples as well as the extensive list of references will endear it to the readers. Overall, this is an outstanding book which will be of great value to anyone interested in the theory of survey sampling.