Samples

Question 1

What is a sample

Answer 1

A sample of the population is taken from a sampling frame or target population

Question 2

What is random sampling

Answer 2

Selected by pulling names out of a hat or by computer generated list. The names generated are random and everyone has a fair chance of being chosen-unbiased

Question 3

What is stratified random sampling

Answer 3

A little more complex , a stratified sample mirrors the overall population to make it reflective e.g. if a school has more boys than girls the sample should contain more boys than girls

Question 4

What is systematic system

Answer 4

This follows. System e.g. every 5th person on the school register

Question 5

What is quota sampling

Answer 5

Where the researcher set the quotas for their sample e.g. boys in year 11 who play football and belong to a team you set the criteria of people you want to include

Question 6

What is snowball sampling

Answer 6

Useful for hard to reach groups e.g. the homeless
A researcher might hand out a set of questionnaires to a homeless person, and ask them to pass the on to other in their situation - they may offer a meal in return for their reponses

Question 7

What is opportunistic

Answer 7

Simply involving anyone who will take part- e.g. talking to the first 50 people in a town centre who pass by