Sampling Flashcards
Bias
Define
A systematic distortion
Generalisation
Define
Applying the findings as a part of a particular study to the population
Opportunity sample
Define
A sample of participants produced by selecting people who are most easily avaliable at the time of the study
Population sample
Define
A group of people that has the characteristics the reasercher is intrested in
Random Sample
Define
A sample of participants produced by using random techniques so that every member of the target audience has an equal chance of being selected
Sampling
Define
A selection of participants from the target population intended to produce a representative group from that total population.
Stratisfied sample
Define
A sample of participants produced by identifying subgroups according to their frequency in the population.
They are then randomly selected in their subgroup.
Systematic sample
Define
A sample obtained by picking the Nth person in every group.
Volunteer sample
Define
A sample of participants that relies on volunteers to make up the numbers.
Also known as self selected sample.
Opportunity sample
Pros and cons
Quick and convenient
Inevitably Bias as the sample is self selected.
Random sample
Pros and cons
Produce the most representative data and generalisable findings.
Could still hold some bais depending on whos selected and if people refuse to take part
Stratified sample
Pros and cons
Unlike Opportunity sample it will represent the underlying population but is limited of understanding which subgroups are important
Systematic sample
Pros and cons
Less Biased, but like random will have some bias is participants refuse to take part
Volunteer sample
Pros and cons
Quick and easy .
Very biased due to special skills of the volunteers
