RESEARCH METHODS- Sampling

Question 1

Target Population

Answer 1

The whole population whose behaviour is being studied

Question 2

Sample Frame

Answer 2

The total group of people from which a sample can be drawn

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

A selection/subset from the sample frame population who are participants in a research study

Question 4

What should a sample be?

Answer 4

A given sample should be representative of the target population; the researchers should be able to generalise the findings of a study to the entire target population

Question 5

Weakness of ALL types of SAMPLING

Answer 5

The selected participants may refuse to take part in the study, influencing final results due to certain personality types or other factors

Question 6

Random Sampling

Answer 6

Where every member of the sample frame has an equal chance of being selected to be used in the sample

Question 7

How is Random Sampling completed?

Answer 7

All names from the given sample frame will be assigned a number and then put into a computer random number generator

Question 8

Strengths of RS

Answer 8

Removes/Reduces potential Researcher bias since all members of the sample frame have a chance to be included in the sample;
-Prevents the selection of certain groups that could sway results

Question 9

Weakness of RS

Answer 9

The sample may be overly representative of certain groups WITHIN the target population whilst being under representative of others
-All of the chosen participants may have high levels of skill, memory, or all come from the same group

Question 10

Volunteer Sampling

Answer 10

Requires participants to offer themselves to take part in a research study; SELF-SELECTING

Question 11

How is Volunteer Sampling completed?

Answer 11

Researcher/s will place advertisements in various places (Local newspapers, Noticeboards, Flyers, Online, etc.) to ask for people’s participation.
Should ALL INCLUDE dates, phone numbers/email addresses for contacting the researchers as well as any further information the researchers deem necessary to know beforehand.

Question 12

Strengths of VS

Answer 12

More ETHICAL;
Only those interested in the topic of the study taking place will likely be volunteering/willing to be involved
Individuals from the sample frame will not feel pressured into taking part
Not as time-consuming as others

Question 13

Weakness of VS

Answer 13

Tend to attract participants with a certain personality type; motivated, similar characteristics, types of behaviour
-Cannot be generalised to the whole population, given that others within the group may have been unwilling

Question 14

Opportunity Sampling

Answer 14

When the researcher selects participants who are available at a certain time and place

Question 15

How is Opportunity Sampling completed?

Answer 15

The researcher will go to a location where they can access their target population, asking various people who are available to take part in the study
-Continuing until they have the number of participants required

Question 16

Strengths of OS

Answer 16

Highly convenient, not taking excessive time/effort to conduct; given that the location and individuals are readily available

Question 17

Weakness of OS

Answer 17

May not be fully representative of the target population; given that the sample only considers those who are at a certain place at a certain time- cannot be GENERALISED to the target population

Question 18

How is OS susceptible to researcher bias

Answer 18

Researcher/s have control of which kinds of people they ask, so may avoid specific types of individuals

Question 19

Stratified Sampling

Answer 19

Selecting participants based on their characteristics to represent the target population
-The target population is divided into various characteristics and the sample is selected so that all characteristics are represented in ratio are DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL

Question 20

Strata

Answer 20

Non-overlapping subgroups of a population, created by dividing the population into distinct categories based on shared characteristics that are significant to research being conducted

Question 21

How is Stratified Sampling completed?

Answer 21

Researcher/s will determine the target population’s strata for a certain demographic, then selecting a certain number of participants that meet the proportions/ratios of the target population

Question 22

How is SS directly proportional?

Answer 22

By dividing the target population into certain characteristics and deciding a sample based upon that; the sample remains GENERALIABLE to thee target population

Question 23

Strengths of SS

Answer 23

Can be used to determine the attitudes/behaviours of particular individuals; GENERALISABLE

Question 24

Weakness of SS

Answer 24

Time-consuming and impractical to consider the ENTIRE target population, determining strata and their ratios
Not entirely representative of the individuals who do not wish to take part in the study