Sampling

Question 1

Why do sociologists need to sample?

Answer 1

• too expensive and time consuming for sociologists to involve the whole population in their research

Question 2

Define gatekeeper

Answer 2

• point of contact who can put you into contact with the participants you wish to research

Question 3

Which groups of people are harder to research?

Answer 3

• children/students
• prisoners
• gang members
• care home residents

Question 4

Why are gatekeepers essential?

Answer 4

• to ensure safeguarding d the participants and the researcher

Question 5

What are the steps to getting a sample?

Answer 5

• target population
• sampling frame
• sampling method
• sample

Question 6

What are the 2 types of sampling?

Answer 6

• random and non random

Question 7

Define random sampling

Answer 7

• where all people of the target population have an equal chance of being picked entirely but chance

Question 8

What are the pros of random sampling?

Answer 8

• reduces risk of samples being biased
• increases representativeness unless samples consist of the same type of people

Question 9

What are the cons of random sampling?

Answer 9

• sampling frame is needed

Question 10

Define non random sampling

Answer 10

• where people in the target population do not have an equal chance of being picked

Question 11

What are pros of non random sampling?

Answer 11

• sampling frame not needed

Question 12

What are the cons of non random sampling?

Answer 12

• less likely to be representative
• biased through researcher choice

Question 13

What are the conditions needed for sampling frames?

Answer 13

• must have general characteristics required for specific study
• must be recent

Question 14

What are the random sampling methods?

Answer 14

• general random sampling
• systematic random sampling
• stratified random sampling

Question 15

What are the non random sampling methods?

Answer 15

• quota non random sampling
• snowball non random sampling
• purposive non random sampling
• volunteer non random sampling

Question 16

What is general random sampling?

Answer 16

• where all people in target population have an equal chance of being picked entirely by chance

Question 17

What is systematic random sampling?

Answer 17

• every other nth number is selected from the sampling frame

Question 18

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 18

• dividing the research population into a number of different sample frames and using systematic random sampling to select a group that will comprise the research sample

Question 19

What is quota non random sampling?

Answer 19

• select the required population based on given criteria

Question 20

What is snowball non random sampling?

Answer 20

• one contact recruits other participants to get involved in the research

Question 21

What is purposive non random sampling?

Answer 21

• pick participants to meet their criteria

Question 22

What is volunteer non random sampling?

Answer 22

• sample gathered through participants putting themselves forward to be studied

Question 23

What are the pros of random sampling and systematic sampling?

Answer 23

• everyone has same chance (reliable)
• not biased (representative)
• preferred by positivists due to its scientific and objective nature (reliable)

Question 24

What are the cons of random sampling and systematic sampling?

Answer 24

• time consuming (lowers representativeness and generalisability)
• sampling frame won’t always provide useful information so can be biased (lowers representativeness and generalisability)
• if greater number of one type of person is picked (lowers representativeness)

Question 25

What are the pros of stratified sampling?

Answer 25

• not biased (representativeness)
• preferred by positivists due to its scientific, objective nature (reliable)

Question 26

What are the cons of stratified sampling?

Answer 26

• time consuming (lowers representativeness and generalisability)
• sampling frame might not give specific groups to include (lowers representativeness and generalisability)
• if some groups have larger number of people then they’re more likely to be chosen (lowers representativeness and generalisability)

Question 27

What are the pros of quota sampling?

Answer 27

• useful when there is no sampling frame
• easy to set targets
• increases representativeness

Question 28

What are the cons of quota sampling?

Answer 28

• researcher may be biased towards certain group (lowers representativeness)
• no sampling frame, less scientific, more difficult to repeat (lowers reliability)
• numbers needed may not be representative of target population

Question 29

What are pros of snowball sampling?

Answer 29

• useful when there is no sampling frame
• good for studies with difficult groups to access (validity and representativeness)
• easy if one person acts as gatekeeper (rapport and validity)

Question 30

What are the cons of snowball sampling?

Answer 30

• no sampling frame (not representative)
• sample made up pf same type of people (lowers representativeness)
• biased/subjective (insider researchers)

Question 31

What are the pros of purposive sampling?

Answer 31

• useful when there is no sampling frame
• good when specific type of person is needed
• easy/quick to get large sample (representativeness)

Question 32

What are cons of purposive sampling?

Answer 32

• no sampling frame (not representative)
• sample made up of same type of people (lowers representativeness)
• biased/subjective (chosen by researcher)

Question 33

What are the pros of volunteer sampling?

Answer 33

• useful when there is no sampling frame
• good when specific type of person is needed (representativeness)
• easy/quick large sample (representativeness and generalisability)

Question 34

What are the cons of volunteer sampling?

Answer 34

• no sampling frame (not representative)
• sample made up of the same type of people (lowers representativeness)
• biased/subjective (chosen by researcher)