A national nutrition survey first randomly selects 5 states, then randomly selects 3 districts within each selected state, then randomly selects 4 villages within each district, and finally interviews all mothers of under-five children in each selected village. This sampling method is best described as:

• A Cluster sampling
• B Stratified sampling
• C Systematic sampling
• D Multistage sampling ✓

Explanation

Multistage sampling involves successive random sampling at multiple hierarchical levels: states, then districts, then villages. This is distinct from cluster sampling where one level of clusters is selected and all units within are surveyed. Stratified sampling divides the population into homogeneous subgroups and samples from each. Systematic sampling selects units at regular intervals from a list.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 26th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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