methods of sampling

Question 1

what is a target population?

Answer 1

a target population is the group of people that an investigation concerned with or wishes to study in order to apply findings.

Question 2

what is a sample in target population terms?

Answer 2

a selection of the target population that is directly studied in an investigation. A sample should represent the nature of the target population.

Question 3

define sampling method?

Answer 3

a technique used to gather a representative group of people as a sample from the target population. It involves assigning every member of the target population with a number and then drawing numbers from a hat (like a lottery)

Question 4

define random sampling technique

Answer 4

it is a technique used to gather a random sample of participants from the target population.

Question 5

what are the strengths of the random sampling technique?

Answer 5

strengths of the technique include:

1. it generates a representative sample of each member of the target population and gives an equal chance of being selected.
2. It helps control participant variables that may affect the findings of the study

Question 6

what is stratified sampling technique?

Answer 6

a technique that ensures subgroups of the target population are proportionally represented in a sample.

for example is a target population of office workers has 10% of workers in senior management and 90% in general office staff, then the sample should consistent of equivalent proportions of these office workers, drawn at random.

Question 7

define generalisability.

Answer 7

the extent to which the results fo the study represent the whole population not just the sample used.

Question 8

what are the weaknesses of the random sampling technique?

Answer 8

weaknesses of this technique include:

1. even if selected it is still required for the participant to provide consent.
2. some participants ca refuse which can lead to a less representative sample.