Sampling Flashcards
What is Sampling?
What is sampling in sociological research?
The process of selecting a group of individuals from a larger population to study.
What is Sampling?
Why do sociologists use sampling?
Studying the whole population is too time-consuming, costly, and impractical, so a sample provides a smaller, representative group for research.
What is Sampling?
What is the difference between a sample and a sampling frame?
• Sample – The group of people selected for the study.
• Sampling Frame – A list of individuals from which the sample is drawn (e.g., school registers, electoral roll).
Types of Sampling Methods
- Random Sampling
What is random sampling?
Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.
Types of Sampling Methods
- Random Sampling
What are the strengths of random sampling?
• Eliminates bias since everyone has an equal chance.
• Representative if the sample is large enough.
Types of Sampling Methods
Random Sampling
What are the weaknesses of random sampling?
• Eliminates bias since everyone has an equal chance.
• Representative if the sample is large enough.
Types of Sampling Methods
Systematic Sampling
What is systematic sampling?
Selecting every nth person from a sampling frame (e.g., every 10th person on a list).
Types of Sampling Methods
Systematic Sampling
What are the strengths of systematic sampling?
• Less bias than simple random sampling.
• More structured and easier than random sampling.
Types of Sampling Methods
Systematic Sampling
What are the weaknesses of systematic sampling?
• If the sampling frame is not random, the sample may be biased.
• Not completely random since selection follows a pattern.
Types of Sampling Methods
Stratified Sampling
What is stratified sampling?
The population is divided into subgroups (strata) based on characteristics (e.g., age, gender), and a proportional sample is taken from each group.
Types of Sampling Methods
Stratified Sampling
What are the strengths of stratified sampling?
• Ensures all subgroups are represented.
• Increases accuracy and generalizability.
Types of Sampling Methods
Stratified Sampling
What are the weaknesses of stratified sampling?
• Time-consuming and complex.
• Requires detailed knowledge of the population.
Types of Sampling Methods
Quota Sampling
What is quota sampling?
The researcher selects participants based on pre-set quotas (e.g., 50% male, 50% female).
Types of Sampling Methods
Quota Sampling
What are the strengths of quota sampling?
• Quick and easy to organize.
• Ensures representation of key subgroups.
Types of Sampling Methods
Quota Sampling
What are the weaknesses of quota sampling?
• Not truly random, leading to potential bias.
• Researcher has control over selection, which can introduce subjectivity.
Types of Sampling Methods
Snowball Sampling
What is snowball sampling?
A method where existing participants recruit others from their network (often used for hard-to-reach groups).
Types of Sampling Methods
Snowball Sampling
What are the strengths of snowball sampling?
• Useful for studying hidden populations (e.g., criminals, drug users).
• Cheap and easy when no formal sampling frame exists.
Types of Sampling Methods
Snowball Sampling
What are the weaknesses of snowball sampling?
• Not representative – participants recruit people similar to themselves.
• High risk of bias.
Types of Sampling Methods
Opportunity Sampling
What is opportunity sampling?
Selecting people who are available and willing to take part (e.g., stopping people in a shopping center).
Types of Sampling Methods
Opportunity Sampling
What are the strengths of opportunity sampling?
• Quick, easy, and cheap.
• No need for a sampling frame.
Types of Sampling Methods
Opportunity Sampling
What are the weaknesses of opportunity sampling?
• Not representative – relies on who happens to be available.
• High researcher bias in selecting participants.
Representativeness & Generalizability
What is representativeness in sampling?
How well the sample reflects the characteristics of the target population.
Representativeness & Generalizability
What factors affect representativeness?
• Sample Size – Larger samples are more representative.
• Sampling Method – Some methods (e.g., random sampling) are better at avoiding bias.
• Diversity of the Population – A very varied population makes representativeness harder.
Representativeness & Generalizability
What is generalizability?
The extent to which findings from a sample apply to the whole population.
Representativeness & Generalizability
Why is generalizability important in sociological research?
It ensures findings can be applied to wider society, making research more useful.
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Practical Issues
What practical factors affect sampling?
• Time & Cost – Some sampling methods are expensive and time-consuming.
• Access to Participants – Some groups (e.g., criminals) are hard to reach.
• Resources – Researchers may lack funding or staff to carry out large-scale
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Ethical Issues
What ethical issues are involved in sampling?
• Vulnerable groups (e.g., children, people with disabilities) require extra protection.
• Illegal activities (e.g., researching criminals) pose risks to participants and researchers.
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Ethical Issues
Why might some groups be unethical to sample?
• Vulnerable groups (e.g., children, people with disabilities) require extra protection.
• Illegal activities (e.g., researching criminals) pose risks to participants and researchers.
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Theoretical Issues
What is reliability in sampling?
The consistency of research results – if repeated, would the same sample produce the same findings?
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Theoretical Issues
What is validity in sampling?
How accurate and truthful the findings are – does the sample truly reflect the target population?
Practical, Ethical, and Theoretical Issues in Sampling (P.E.T)
Theoretical Issues
How do positivists and interpretivists view sampling?
• Positivists prefer large, representative samples to produce quantitative, generalizable data.
• Interpretivists often use smaller, non-random samples to explore qualitative, in-depth meanings.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Sampling in Sociological Research
Strengths of Using Sampling
Why is sampling useful in sociological research?
• Saves time and money – Studying an entire population is impractical.
• Allows for generalization – If done correctly, findings can apply to a larger group.
• Provides focus – Researchers can concentrate on specific social groups.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Sampling in Sociological Research
Weaknesses of Sampling
Q: What are the problems with sampling?
• Sampling bias – Some groups may be over- or under-represented.
• Lack of access – Some populations are difficult to reach.
• Non-representative samples – Can limit generalizability and validity.
