research methods- sampling

Question 1

population

Answer 1

large group of people that a researcher is interested in studying
-i.e. college students from the north west

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

-the smaller group of a population thats collected (as its not often possible to include all members of the population in the study)

Question 3

generalisation

Answer 3

sample is drawn should be representative of the population so generalisations can be made

Question 4

bias

Answer 4

most samples are biased in that certain groups (e.g. men, students, professionals etc) may be over- or under-represented

Question 5

what is random sampling?

Answer 5

every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Question 6

how does random sampling work?

Answer 6

lottery method
-all members of target population assigned a no. and placed in a hat or computer/phone randomiser is used

Question 7

evaluation of random sampling

Answer 7

+potentially unbiased
-time-consuming and may not work

Question 8

ao3 of random sampling: potentially unbiased

Answer 8

-means CVs/EVs controlled
-enhances internal validity

Question 9

ao3 of random sampling: time-consuming and may not work

Answer 9

-complete list of population is hard to get
-also some p’s may refuse to take part

Question 10

what is systematic sampling?

Answer 10

p’s are selected using a sampling frame e.g. list in alphabetical order

Question 11

how does systematic sampling work?

Answer 11

every nth person is selected from a list of the target population

Question 12

evaluation of systematic sampling

Answer 12

+unbiased
-time and effort

Question 13

ao3 of systematic sampling: unbiased

Answer 13

-first item is usually selected at random
-objective method

Question 14

ao3 of systematic sampling: time and effort

Answer 14

-complete list of population is required
-may as well use random sampling

Question 15

what’s stratified sampling?

Answer 15

sample reflects proportions of people in certain subgroups (strata) within a population

Question 16

how does stratified sampling work?

Answer 16

-subgroups (stravas) are identified, e.g. gender or age groups. relative percentages of the subgroups in the population are reflected in the sample

Question 17

evaluation of stratified sample

Answer 17

+representative method
-stratification is not perfect

Question 18

ao3 of stratified sample: representative method

Answer 18

-characteristics of the target population are represented
-generalisability more likely than other methods

Question 19

ao3 of systematic sampling: stratification not perfect

Answer 19

-strata cannot reflect all the ways in which people are different
-complete representation is not possible

Question 20

what is opportunity sampling?

Answer 20

-people who are simply most available, i.e. the ones who are nearest/easiest to obtain

Question 21

how does opportunity sampling work?

Answer 21

ask people nearby, e.g. ask the students in your class to take part or ask people who walk past you at a shopping centre

Question 22

evaluation of opportunity sampling

Answer 22

+quick method
-inevitably biased

Question 23

ao3 of opportunity sampling: quick method

Answer 23

-opportunity sampling id convenient bc u can make use of the people who are closest
-makes it cheaper and one of the most popular sampling methods

Question 24

ao3 of opportunity sampling: inevitably biased

Answer 24

-sample is unrepresentative of the target population as its drawn from one very specific area, such as one street in town
-findings cannot be generalised

Question 25

what is volunteer sampling?

Answer 25

-participants select themselves, self-selecting

Question 26

how does volunteer sampling work?

Answer 26

-advertise
-for example place an advert in a newspaper or ask people to put up their hand to volunteer

Question 27

evaluation of volunteer sampling

Answer 27

+p’s are willing
-volunteer bias

Question 28

ao3 of volunteer sampling: participants are willing

Answer 28

-p’s have selected themselves and know how much time and effort is involved
-likely to engage more than people stopped in the street

Question 29

ao3 of volunteer sampling: volunteer bias

Answer 29

-p’s may share certain traits, e.g. want to be helpful
-respond to cues and generalisation limited