Research methods - Sampling

Question 1

What is a sample?

Answer 1

A small selection of participants.

Question 2

What is a target population?

Answer 2

This is the group of people you want to study.

Question 3

What is a gatekeeper?

Answer 3

A person who is used by a researcher to gain access to participants. This is often in cases in which access to participants is difficult.

Question 4

What is a sampling frame?

Answer 4

This is a list of all the people in the target population.

Question 5

What is a representative sample?

Answer 5

A group of participants who are typical of the target population.

Question 6

What is simple attrition?

Answer 6

When your number in the sample decreases.

Question 7

What is access?

Answer 7

This refers to the ability to gain participants for a study, a sample. Sometimes access to participants is difficult.

Question 8

What is a random sample?

Answer 8

This is when everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being selected. For example, names out of a hat.

Question 9

What are strengths to random sampling?

Answer 9

There is an increased chance of a representative sample.

No bias.

Quick and easy, no need to plan.

More chance of the sample being generalised.

Question 10

What are weaknesses to random sampling?

Answer 10

It won’t always be a representative sample.

Larger samples could be time consuming.

Question 11

What is stratified random sampling?

Answer 11

This means dividing the target population into separate categories (strata) and then picking randomly from each group.

Question 12

What are strengths of stratified random sampling?

Answer 12

It is guaranteed to end with a range of participants, therefore it is representative.

It isn’t biased as all participants in each group have an equal chance of being selected.

Question 13

What are weaknesses of stratified random sampling?

Answer 13

Practical issues as the more stratas/groups there are, the more time it takes.

Very detailed sampling frame is needed to sort participants into groups/stratas.

Question 14

What is quota sampling?

Answer 14

This is a representative sampling technique in which a researcher targets people who fit their quota without a sampling time frame.
For example picking 20 men under the age of 40.

Question 15

What are the strengths of quota sampling?

Answer 15

It is quick, easy and doesn’t need planning.

The more time spent gaining participants, the more generalised the sample.

Participants from a range of different groups (quotas) means that it is a more representative sample.

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of quota sampling?

Answer 16

The researchers may be biased and drawn to a particular type of person (e.g. those most approachable), therefore not representative.

If similar people are chosen it also isn’t representative. For example people from the same social group.

Question 17

What is a systematic sample?

Answer 17

When a system is put in place to select people. For example, every 5th person.

Question 18

What are the strengths of systematic sampling?

Answer 18

All participants have an equal chance, therefore there is no bias.

Question 19

What are the weaknesses of systematic sampling?

Answer 19

Sometimes a complex software is needed for larger sample sizes which isn’t always accessible.