Deck 2 Sampling Flashcards
Define ‘sample’.
A group of people who are selected to represent the wider population.
Define ‘population’.
The total number of people in a particular group/area.
Define ‘target population’.
The group of people from which a sample is drawn to represent them in as many ways as possible.
Define ‘census research’.
Studying every member of a target population.
Define ‘sampling frame’.
A list of all members of the population that a researcher is studying.
Why do sociologists use sampling methods?
Because it is impractical to talk to everyone so a group of people are selected to represent the rest.
Why might access to groups relate to a sample.
It can be more difficult to acquire a certain type of group due to topics of research or the nature of that population.
Define ‘gatekeepers’, giving an example.
People who control whether researchers can have access to ppts (e.g. managers at a care home giving access to residents).
Define ‘random sampling’.
Selecting an amount of people from a population where every member has a predetermined probability of being selected.
Give 2 strengths of random sampling.
1) Representative because everyone has the same chance of being selected
2) Easy and doesn’t take long to do
Give 2 weaknesses of random sampling.
1) Requires a complete, up-to-date sampling frame
2) May not be completely representative as multiple people may be randomly selected from one category whereas only one from another
Define ‘stratified sampling’.
Randomly selecting a set number of people from separate categories (strata) of a target population.
Give 2 strengths of stratified sampling.
1) More representative than random as every category is guaranteed to be represented
2) Doesn’t have a sample selection bias
Give 2 weaknesses of stratified sampling.
1) Takes time to establish separate categories and a sampling frame of everyone within them
2) Can lead to a limited sample
Define ‘cluster sampling’.
Dividing a population into different clusters (such as postcodes) then randomly selecting from them.
Give 2 strengths of cluster sampling.
1) Gives researchers some control over sample
2) Sampling frame only needed for clusters being studied
Give 2 weaknesses of cluster sampling.
1) Reduces representativeness
2) Open to sample selection bias of the clusters being chosen
Define ‘quota sampling’.
Researchers go out and find people who fit the certain quota that they want in their population, such as a specific characteristic.
Give 2 strengths of quota sampling.
1) No sampling frame needed prior
2) Quick and easy way of gaining representative sample of that target population
Give 2 weaknesses of quota sampling.
1) Subjective due to being reliant on choice of researcher
2) Might be the certain type of characteristic the researcher wants that would prove their hypothesis
Define ‘snowball sampling’.
When the researcher finds ppts they gain contacts through them and find other ppts and so their is a chain-referral of ppts for a sample.
Give 2 strengths of snowball sampling.
1) Useful for researchers to find groups who are hidden
2) Easy as the researcher doesn’t need to make a predetermined sampling frame
Give 2 weaknesses of snowball sampling.
1) Sample is not representative of wider population and other groups that may not be accounted for as certain people will know certain types of other people who are usually similar to them
2) Trail of ppts may dry up and so is unreliable
Define ‘volunteer sampling’.
People put themselves forward to take part in research.
Give 2 strengths of volunteer sampling.
1) Easy fro researcher as they wait for ppts to come to them
2) Consent is guaranteed
Give 2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling.
1) Where advertisement is placed may affect representativeness
2) Certain people may be interested in the particular topic raised in the research and so lack representativeness
Define ‘purposive sampling’.
A sample that is selected based on the characteristics of a population and the research objective.
Give 2 strengths of purposive sampling.
1) Can gain representative sample for a target population quickly
2) Can improve representativeness of a study by finding people to make up for bias in the original sample
Give 2 weaknesses of purposive sampling.
1) It isn’t representative of the wider population
2) Researchers may purposely look for a population with the characteristics that would prove the hypothesis of their research
What is a major criticism Interpretivists would give of the representativeness of sampling procedures.
- Representativeness is largely a Positivist concern and so reject the idea that any sample is representative
- Interpretivists are concerned with individual meanings, thoughts, and motives
- In this context, every individual is unique and so can never be fully generalised
