Sampling Techniques

Question 1

define sampling

Answer 1

• how ppts are selected to take part in research
• who we select impacts our research

Question 2

what is a target population?

Answer 2

the population of people your research is aimed at

Question 3

what is a sampling frame?

Answer 3

a list of potential ppts from your target pop e.g. census, from this a list of ppts can be drawn

Question 4

what is opportunity sampling?

Answer 4

taking a sample from people you have an opportunity of studying, readily available and most convenient

Question 5

what is volunteer sampling?

Answer 5

• ppts choose themselves by responding to an advert to take part in research
• can appear in newspapers, notice boards etc

Question 6

what is random sampling?

Answer 6

everyone in the target pop has an equal chance of being selected e.g lottery system, name generator etc

Question 7

what is systematic sampling?

Answer 7

ppts are selected using a pre-determined system, every nth person

Question 8

what is stratified sampling?

Answer 8

ppts selected according to their frequency in the target pop, every sub group should be represented in the study

Question 9

what are the advantages of opportunity sampling?

Answer 9

easiest, most convenient, least time consuming

Question 10

what are the limitations of opportunity sampling?

Answer 10

• researcher bias
• unrepresentative because it’s the only group that happens to be there

Question 11

what are the advantages of volunteer sampling?

Answer 11

• requires little work from the researcher
• ad can be posted online so reaches a wider audience
• can target a pop based on where you advertise

Question 12

what are the limitations of volunteer sampling?

Answer 12

• likely to have volunteer bias
• no researcher control
• unlikely to be fully representative
• ppts may only be doing it for money and not take it seriously

Question 13

what are the advantages of random sampling?

Answer 13

no researcher bias

Question 14

what are the limitations of random sampling?

Answer 14

• could be unrepresentative by chance,
• requires sampling frame
• ppts could turn down once picked

Question 15

what are the advantages of systematic sampling?

Answer 15

unbiased as it uses an objective system

Question 16

what are the limitations of systematic sampling?

Answer 16

• could be unrepresentative by chance
• requires sampling frame
• ppts could turn down once picked

Question 17

what are the advantages of stratified sampling?

Answer 17

• most representative
• unbiased as it has ppts from each sub-group

Question 18

what are the limitations of stratified sampling?

Answer 18

• difficult to achieve
• accurate sampling frame and correct calculations needed
• ppts in random selection may not agree