Particpants/Sampling Flashcards
What is target population?
The people who take part in the research are called participants and the researchers get participants from a population. A population is defined as all of the members of a particular group from which the participants are selected. The aim of the sample is to select people who are representative of the rest of the population from which they were chosen
What are sampling frames?
Once the target population have been identified. Participants must be accessible in some way so they are known to the researcher. Involving listing all the accessible participants in the population based on a set of characteristics that you are interested in. If you wanted to do a phone survey you might use a telephone book to choose your sample.
What is random sampling?
Every member of the target population has the same chance of being selected to participate. The names in the hat method can be used to choose the sample. However, not practical with anything other than a small population. Assigning each member with a random number and having a computer randomly generate the number is the easiest way to do this.
What is opportunity sampling?
Using anyone that you can get hold of. This is very easy. The sample selection is based on whoever is willing and available to take part at the time.
What is systematic sampling?
Technique that chooses subjects from the target population in an orderly or logical way. Choosing every nth participant from a list is the most common. An interval would be needed.
What is stratified sampling?
The researcher first identifies the different groups of participants within the target population. Participants from each group are then randomly selected based on the frequency of occurrence in the general population
What is quota sampling?
It’s very similar to stratified sampling. The first stages are exactly the same. First identifies the different groups of participants within the target population. Instead of randomly selecting participants we use most commonly opportunity sampling.
What is self selected sampling?
Uses a advertisement saying ‘looking for participants to take part in X study’ . Participants see the advertisement and choose to self volunteer to take part.
What is snowball sampling?
Technique is used in research when members of a target population are difficult to locate or are rare. Researcher identifies participants and then asking them to refer other potential participants who fit the sample profile.
What are observational sampling techniques?
It is impossible to record everything in an observation. We have to be selective in what we observe. We have to take a sample of behaviours to observe.
Time sampling involves making observations for short intervals within a given period of time.
Event sampling where all clearly defined relevant behaviors are recorded each time they occur.
