Research Fundamentals

Question 1

What is the purpose of research?

Answer 1

• To learn important factors that help us make better decisions
• Allows us to to understand variations in community so we can make informed decisions
• To discover new information or trends and patterns in a given area

Question 2

Purpose of research (ACRONYM)

Answer 2

Researching is the act of advancing knowledge and increasing understanding about specific issues or topics in order to both educate and inform other people.

ACRONYM= AKEII

-Advance Knowledge

-Allows people to increase their level of knowledge and understanding about specific issues or topics

-Educate Others

This information is then used to educate others and improve practice in relation to that area

-Increase Knowledge
(Of how the world works)

-Inform Practice
Helps us make decisions

Question 3

What is the focus of research?

Answer 3

• To evaluate existing information and
  assess what is not known or what has been left out.

A Hypothesis or question=

A theory or statement that research is based on

-Research is conducted to prove or disprove the hypothesis

Question 4

What is sampling?

Answer 4

The selection process of people in order to represent a group

OR

Taking a smaller portion (sample) of a large group to represent the group researched

Question 5

What are the 7 sampling methods?

• Hint Acronym: RSCCQSS

Answer 5

R- Random:
S-Systematic
C-Clustered
C- Convenience
Q-Quota
S-Snowball
S- Stratified

Question 6

What do each of the 7 sampling methods mean?

Acronym: RSCCQSS

Answer 6

Random Sampling:
-Each member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen

Systematic Sampling -
A researcher chooses candidates systematically

e.g: chooses every fifth name on the list

Clustered Sampling:

• subgroups (smaller) groups (clusters) are chosen for the sample (with commonalities)

Convenience Sampling:

• Candidates are chosen because they are easily accessible

Quota Sampling:

Candidates are chosen based on prerequisites

Snowball Sampling: (Referral)– promotion

-group of respondents are chosen and then refer other respondents to the researcher

Stratified Sampling:

Researcher categorises respondents in small groups and then randomly chooses a sample from each group

Question 7

What is a sample group

Answer 7

A group of individuals used to represent the general population

• Think Group- More than 1 person (collective)

Question 8

What is a sample size?

Answer 8

• The number of people in the sample

Question 9

What is a population?

Answer 9

All the people in a defined group

Question 10

What are the advantages of Random Sampling?

Answer 10

• Every person will have the same probability of being included in the
  study

-Unbiased

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of Random Sampling?

Answer 11

-Can be very expensive and time consuming

• Requires ‘access’ to the whole population in order to be truly random

Question 12

What are the advantages of Systematic Sampling?

Answer 12

• The sample is evenly spread across the population
• Sometimes easier to apply than simple random sampling.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of Systematic Sampling?

Answer 13

A pattern may be present in the population
making the sample biased.

Question 14

What are the advantages of Clustered Sampling?

Answer 14

Cheaper and more efficient to apply when

dealing with a geographically dispersed
population.

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of Clustered Sampling?

Answer 15

The sample will be biased if the clusters do
not represent the population.

Question 16

What are the advantages of convenience Sampling?

Answer 16

Cheap, time saving, and simple to implement.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of convenience Sampling?

Answer 17

Often leads to selection bias and thus the

study results may not truly represent the population

Question 18

What are the advantages of clustered Sampling?

Answer 18

Cheaper and more efficient to apply when
dealing with a geographically dispersed
population.

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of clustered Sampling?

Answer 19

The sample will be biased if the clusters do
not represent the population.

Question 20

What are the advantages of Quota Sampling?

Answer 20

• Cheaper, faster and
  easier than stratified
  sampling because it does
  not require random
  sampling
• Minority groups can be
  represented

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of Quota Sampling?

Answer 21

Can lead to selection
bias and thus may not
truly represent the
population

Question 22

What are the advantages of Snowball Sampling?

Answer 22

Useful when individuals in the population are
difficult to identify (e.g. drug users).

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of Snowball Sampling?

Answer 23

Selection bias is possible since the sample is
not selected at random.

● May be slow because it relies on the referral of existing participants to build up the sample.