Participants

Question 1

Target population?

Answer 1

Refers to the group of individuals a researcher is interested in, for example people above the age of 65 or A level students in the North East

Question 2

What is a sampling frame?

Answer 2

Refers to the smaller group from the target population the researcher is going to sample their participants from e.g residents in a retirement home or QE students

Question 3

Sample group definition?

Answer 3

Refers to participants actually used on the research, this is a sample taken from the sampling frame

Question 4

Most representative sampling technique to least representative

Answer 4

Stratified/ Quota 
 ⬇️ 
Random, Systematic 
⬇️
Snowball, Opportunity 
⬇️ 
Self selected

Question 5

Least effort/ time to most effort

Answer 5

Self selected 
⬇️
Snowball, opportunity 
⬇️ 
Random, Systematic
⬇️
Stratified, Quota

Question 6

Random sampling exp

Answer 6

• either get a list of all ppl in the target population, write all names on a piece of paper then place into a hat, select the number of ppts required OR enter names into a random computer generator, click button # number of times to get number of ppts needed

Question 7

Random sampling advantages?

Answer 7

• unbiased = everyone in target audience has equal chance of getting selected = the sample should be more representative and findings more generalisable to the target pop than opportunity samples.
• compared to OS, less chance of researcher bias as random selection tech chooses ppts rather than the researcher themselves

Question 8

Random sampling disadvantages?

Answer 8

• time consuming as researcher must identify everyone in the target group and select ppts at random unlike OS -> is quick and easy
• still may result in a biased sample - possible that random selection may result in a ‘freak’ unrepresentative sample unlike stratified which selects ppts from each strata in proportion to the rate they appear in the target audience

Question 9

How does stratified sampling work?

Answer 9

• subgroups or strata within a target population are identified (e.g boys, girls, age groups) PPTS ARE GAINED FROM EACH STRATA IN PROPORTION TO THE RATE THEY APPEAR IN THE TARGET POPULATION
  then: selection from the strata is done using a RANDOM technique

Question 10

Strengths of stratified sampling?

Answer 10

+most REPRESENTATIVE sampling method as there is a PROPORTIONAL representation of subgroups therefore findings can be generalised to the target population.

+ COMPARED TO OPPORTUNITY SAMPLING there is less chance of researcher bias as the random technique, e.g. using random number generator, chooses the pts rather than the researcher themselves

Question 11

Weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

Answer 11

_ Very Time consuming as all the subgroups need to be identified and then selected at random UNLIKE self-selected where ppts come forward themselves to take part in research
_ Even though this technique will select the most representative sample group of the population compared to other techniques, it is still likely that there will be some bias as not all subgroups or strata can be identified

Question 12

how does QUOTA sampling technique work?

Answer 12

subgroups or strata within a target population are identified )e.g. boys, girls, age group). Ppts are gained from PRE-SET NUMBERS from each of the strata in PROPORTION to the rate that they appear in the target population
THEN: selection from the strata is done using a NON RANDOM TECHNIQUE

Question 13

how does Snowball sampling technique work?

Answer 13

find one or a few Ppts - they rgeb recruit further ppts from amongst people they know

Question 14

strengths of Quota sampling?

Answer 14

+ most representative sampling method as there is a proportional representation of subgroups therefore findings can be generalised to the target population
+ quicker than using a STRATIFIED sampling technique

Question 15

weaknesses of Quota sampling?

Answer 15

_ Very time consuming as all the subgroups have to be identified and the selected UNLIKE SELF SELECTED where ppts come forward themselves to take part in research
_ May still contain an element of RESEARCHER BIAS as the non random technique is used to select the ppts in each quota - the researcher may identify ppts in each quota that may support their hypothesis

Question 16

Strengths of snowball sampling?

Answer 16

+ useful at gaining access to difficult to reach ppts for example people with addictions meaning it may be the most appropriate technique for gaining ppts to researxc some behaviours
+ appropriate when the sampling frame is unknown

Question 17

Weaknesses of snowball sampling?

Answer 17

_ unlikely to be representative as it uses friends/ contacts of initial ppts meaning it may be difficult to generalise the findings as they will be from similar groups
_ more time consuming compared to opportunity sampling technique as the researcher needs to wait for ppts to refer other ppts

Question 18

how does opportunity sampling work?

Answer 18

Choosing ppl who are available at the time e.g. people walking past in the street

Question 19

Strengths of opportunity sampling?

Answer 19

+ quick and easy method of gaining ppts as the researcher is choosing who is available at the time UNLIKE stratified sampling which requires each strata to be identified then PPts selected at random
+ appropriate to use when the samopling frame is unknown - such as ppl in a shopping centre. It is IMPOSSIBLE to use some other sampling techniques such as RANDOM or STRATIFIED when you don’t know who will be there at the time

Question 20

Weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

Answer 20

_ likely to result in a BIASED SAMPLE as it is drawn from a small section of the population who are at the same place at the same time and are likely to share similar characteristics, e.g. students who use the common room. Therefore it will be unrepresentative and unlike a stratified sample which selects from across a sampling frame
_ INCREASED CHANCE OF RESEARCHER BIAS as they may only approach ppts who they think fit their aims/ hypothesis lowering the INTERNAL VALIDITY UNLIKE RANDOM sampling which gives everyone an equal chance of being selected

Question 21

how does self selected sampling work?

Answer 21

Advertise for ppts in a newspaper , on a noticeboard or the internet. ppts then VOLUNTEER to take part

Question 22

Strengths of self selected sampling?

Answer 22

+ Seen to be more ethical than other sampling techniques as you are surer you have ppts consent as they have volunteered for the study UNLIKE RANDOM SAMPLING where ppts may feel obliged to take part as they have been selected
+ Quick and easy method of gaining pts bc the researcher has to place the advert and then wait for the ppts to volunteer UNLIKE STRATIFIED which is very time consuming as requires each strata to be identified then ppts selected at random

Question 23

Weaknesses of self selected sampling?

Answer 23

_ prone to volunteer BIAS as it may reult in a biased sample as it may be that only certain types of ppl are likely to volunteer e.g. extroverts or highly motivated ppl
. so, sample may be unrepresentative making it dificult to generalise findings to target pop
_ compared to other sampling tech you may be more LIKELY TO GET DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS as volunteer are more age to help the researcher find evidence to support their aims

Question 24

How does systematic sampling work?

Answer 24

Use a pre-determined system (e.g. every 14th or 20th person) to select every nth ppt from the target population

Question 25

Strengths of systematic sampling technique?

Answer 25

+ less chance of bias as ppts are selected using an OBJECTIVE SYSTEM e.g. every 10th person meaning UNLIKE OPPOR SAM where the researcher may approach ppts who suit their aims
+ Quicker sampling technique than stratified sampling as you do not need to establish the proportions different groups within the target population

Question 26

Weaknesses of systematic sampling technique?

Answer 26

_ still may result in a biased sample - it is possible that the system may result in a ‘freak’ unrepresentative sample UNLIKE STRATIFIED which selects ppts from each strata in proportion to the rate they appear in the target population
- Not practical when the sampling frame is unknown, such as drug addicts, where a snowball or volunteer sample may be more appropriate