Sampling

Question 1

what are the 5 types of sampling?

Answer 1

• random
• systematic
• stratified
• opportunity
• volunteer

Question 2

what is a population?

Answer 2

large group of individuals that a particular researcher is interested in studying

Question 3

what is the target population?

Answer 3

subset of the general population

Question 4

what is a sample?

Answer 4

researcher selects a smaller group from the members of the target population
- drawn to be representative

Question 5

what is the aim of sampling techniques?

Answer 5

aims to produce a representative sample

Question 6

what is the process of a random sample?

Answer 6

• obtain a complete list of all members of the target population
• place all names into a hat OR give all names on the list an assigned number
• take out the names of the hat until the desired number is reached OR use a random number generator util you have the desired number of ppts

Question 7

what is the process of systematic smapling?

Answer 7

• obtain a list of the target population and arrange into alphabetical order
• every nth member of the list is selected for the sample

Question 8

what is the process of stratified sampling?

Answer 8

• researcher has to identify the different strata that make up a population
• the proportions needed for the sample to be representative are worked out
• ppts that make up each stratum are selected using random sampling

Question 9

what is the process of opportunity sampling?

Answer 9

• researchers takes the chance to ask whoever is around who is willing and able to take part

Question 10

what is the process of volunteer sampling?

Answer 10

• ppts select themselves to be part of sample(self-reflection)
• researcher places an advert in a newspaper

Question 11

what is a strength of random sampling?

Answer 11

• potentially unbiased, confounding or extraneous variables should be equally divided between groups, enhacing internal validity

Question 12

what are weaknesses of random sampling?

Answer 12

• difficult and time-consuming to conduct(list)
• may still be unrepresentative
• selected ppts may refuse to take part

Question 13

what are strengths of systematic sampling?

Answer 13

• objective, researcher has no influence over who is chosen

Question 14

what are weaknesses of systematic sampling?

Answer 14

• time-consuming
• ppts may refuse to take part

Question 15

what are strengths of stratified sampling?

Answer 15

• produces a representative sampling, generalisation becomes possible

Question 16

what are weaknesses of stratified sampling?

Answer 16

• identified strata cannot reflect all the ways people are different, so complete representation is not be possible

Question 17

what are strengths of opportunity sampling?

Answer 17

• convenient, less costly (in terms of time and money)

Question 18

what are weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

Answer 18

• suffers two forms of bias
• sample in unrepresentative of target population, findings can’t be generalised to target population
• researcher has complete control over selection of ppts, may avoid people they don’t like the look of (researcher bias)

Question 19

what are strengths of volunteer sampling?

Answer 19

• minimal input
• less time-consuming

Question 20

what are weaknesses of volunteer smapling?

Answer 20

• asking for volunteers may attract a certain profile
  = generalisation is affected