7. RESEARCH METHODS (Sampling (Population and sample, Opportunity, Volunteer, Random, Systematic and Stratified)) Flashcards
What is a population in psychology research?
A population refers to the group of people that are the focus of the researcher’s interests, from which a sample is drawn.
What is a sample in psychology research?
A sample is a group of people who take part in a research investigation, drawn from the target population, and presumed to be representative of that population.
What is the purpose of sampling in research?
Sampling methods are used to select people from the population. The goal is to gather a sample that can be used to generalize findings to the target population.
What is researcher bias in sampling?
Researcher bias occurs when certain groups are over or under-represented in the sample, which limits the extent to which generalizations can be made to the target population.
What is generalization in research?
Generalization refers to applying the findings from the sample to the wider target population, assuming the sample is representative.
What is opportunity sampling?
Opportunity sampling involves selecting participants who are convenient and readily available to take part in the study, typically based on their accessibility.
What is a strength of opportunity sampling?
Opportunity sampling is not time-consuming because participants are readily available, saving the researcher time and money.
What is a limitation of opportunity sampling?
The sample may not be representative of the target population, leading to biased results that reduce the external validity of the study.
What is volunteer sampling?
Volunteer sampling involves participants who have chosen to take part in the study, often responding to an advertisement or invitation.
What is a strength of volunteer sampling?
Volunteer sampling is not time-consuming since the researcher only needs to advertise for participants, making it easier and quicker to gather a sample.
What is a limitation of volunteer sampling?
The sample may not be representative of the target population, as volunteers may share similar characteristics, reducing the external validity of the study.
What is random sampling?
Random sampling ensures that every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected. Participants are chosen using random methods like drawing names from a hat or using a random number generator.
What is a strength of random sampling?
Random sampling eliminates researcher bias, increasing internal validity as the researcher cannot influence who is selected for the study.
What is a limitation of random sampling?
Random sampling can still result in a sample that isn’t fully representative due to chance, and it can be time-consuming, especially with large populations.
What is systematic sampling?
Systematic sampling involves selecting every nth person from the target population after obtaining a sampling frame, such as choosing every third person from a list.
