Sampling

Question 1

What is the sampling frame

Answer 1

A list of all members of the target population you are interested in studying

Question 2

Random sampling

Answer 2

All selected population have equal chance in taking part eg by manual or computing

Further way is Systamatic sampling putting everyone in random order and selecting every nth person until desired number is reached

Question 3

Advantage and disadvantage of random sampling

Answer 3

Should produce a bias free cross section of population

Doesnt guarantee a representative sample

Question 4

Stratified sampling

Answer 4

Divide the population into known criteria and take a random sample from each category

Question 5

Advantage and disadvantage of stratified sampling

Answer 5

Researcher is considering different factors so should be more representative and detailed

Problem of deciding categories and the measurement of these categories

Question 6

Quota sampling

Answer 6

A researcher must decide how many individuals from a social group are required for their sample, and stops drawing them once a particular quota met

Question 7

Advantage and disadvantage of quota sampling

Answer 7

If aware of makeup of general population this means you can use as guide for quotas to produce representative sample

Could be bias

Question 8

Volunteer sampling

Answer 8

Researcger puts a recruiting advert in newspaper media etc to ask volunteers to take part

Question 9

Advantage and disadvantage of volunteer sampling

Answer 9

Easy to gain willing ppts

Could be volunteer bias eg all extroverted people applying

Question 10

Cluster sampling

Answer 10

Researcgher targets a cluster of individuals within a population

Question 11

Advantage and disadvantage of cluster sampling

Answer 11

sometimes only suitable as it would be impossible for resdearcher to cover whole area or whole population

small clusters may not be representative

Question 12

Theoretical sampling

Answer 12

studying non typical sample to illustrate particular theoretical insights

Question 13

Advantage and disadvantage of theoretical sampling

Answer 13

Can be only way to illustrate particular theoretical standpoints

studying non typical groups can make it impossible to generalise to typical groups

Question 14

Opportunity sampling

Answer 14

The researcher uses individulas that are ready and available at the time to take part

Question 15

Advantages and disadvantages of opportunity sampling

Answer 15

easy to gain willing ppts to take part

sample is likely to be unrepresentative

Question 16

Pro large samples

Answer 16

Some researchers believe larger sample size is better as sample is less bias and unrepresentative

Question 17

Anti large samples

Answer 17

large samples are time consuming and expensive

Question 18

Snowball sampling

Answer 18

Sample created by successive personal contacts or recommendations from one member of the particular population

Question 19

Advantage and disadvantage of snowball sampling

Answer 19

Easy to gain willing participants

Sample is likely to be unrepresentative