Research Methods -> Sampling

Question 1

Sample:

Answer 1

Participants that actually take part in your research selected from your target population.

Question 2

Representative:

Answer 2

the sample used should be a fair representation of your target population

Question 3

Generalisation:

Answer 3

the sample used in your study should be representative enough to be able to generalise results to the target population

Question 4

Sample bias:

Answer 4

the fact that even though all sampling methods aim to produce a representative sample, they are inevitably biased or distorted. Eg an opportunity sample

Question 5

Volunteer bias:

Answer 5

the fact that people who volunteer are likely to be different to other members of the population and this biases the data produced.

Question 6

Random sampling

Answer 6

Every person in target population has equal chance of being selected e.g. names in a hat

Question 7

Strength of Random sampling

Answer 7

Fair way to select pps as every member of the population has

Question 8

Weakness of Random sampling

Answer 8

May not be representative of target population as we might get too many pps from one particular sub group

Question 9

Opportunity sampling

Answer 9

Choose people who are available and willing to take part

Question 10

Strength of opportunity sampling

Answer 10

Quick and easy as it is easy to approach people and ask them to take part

Question 11

Weakness of opportunity sampling

Answer 11

Very unlikely to be representative of target population because only certain types of people ever do agree to take part – this then leads to a biased sample

Question 12

Systematic sampling

Answer 12

When every nth person is chosen

Question 13

Strength of systematic sampling

Answer 13

Easy to do as you can get the computer to pick every nth person or you can do it yourself from a register

Question 14

Weakness of systematic sampling

Answer 14

May not be representative of target population as only certain people will be selected

Question 15

Volunteer sampling

Answer 15

When pps put themselves forward to take part in study after replying to advert/flyer

Question 16

Strength of volunteer sampling

Answer 16

Ethical as the pps have replied to the advert and put themselves forward

Question 17

Weakness of volunteer sampling

Answer 17

Only certain people with certain personalities put themselves forward so not representative. For example, it is possible that people who are unemployed will reply to an advert and agree to take part as they may have more time on their hands compared to employed people – leading to a biased sample

Question 18

Stratified sample

Answer 18

Pps chosen according to their proportion in target population. Pps chosen randomly

Question 19

Strength of stratified sampling

Answer 19

Very representative of target population as every person has an equal chance of being selected and all subgroups will be selected equally but still using random methods

Question 20

Weakness of stratified sampling

Answer 20

Time consuming and expensive because if you have a very large target population, it may be difficult to get consent of the pps that are chosen randomly