Sampling

Question 1

Define ‘sample’.

Answer 1

A group of people who are selected to represent the wider population.

Question 2

Define ‘population’.

Answer 2

The total number of people in a particular group/area.

Question 3

Define ‘target population’.

Answer 3

The group of people from which a sample is drawn to represent them in as many ways as possible.

Question 4

Define ‘census research’.

Answer 4

Studying every member of a target population.

Question 5

Define ‘sampling frame’.

Answer 5

A list of all members of the population that a researcher is studying.

Question 6

Why do sociologists use sampling methods?

Answer 6

Because it is impractical to talk to everyone so a group of people are selected to represent the rest.

Question 7

Why might access to groups relate to a sample.

Answer 7

It can be more difficult to acquire a certain type of group due to topics of research or the nature of that population.

Question 8

Define ‘gatekeepers’, giving an example.

Answer 8

People who control whether researchers can have access to ppts (e.g. managers at a care home giving access to residents).

Question 9

Define ‘random sampling’.

Answer 9

Selecting an amount of people from a population where every member has a predetermined probability of being selected.

Question 10

Give 2 strengths of random sampling.

Answer 10

1) Representative because everyone has the same chance of being selected
2) Easy and doesn’t take long to do

Question 11

Give 2 weaknesses of random sampling.

Answer 11

1) Requires a complete, up-to-date sampling frame
2) May not be completely representative as multiple people may be randomly selected from one category whereas only one from another

Question 12

Define ‘stratified sampling’.

Answer 12

Randomly selecting a set number of people from separate categories (strata) of a target population.

Question 13

Give 2 strengths of stratified sampling.

Answer 13

1) More representative than random as every category is guaranteed to be represented
2) Doesn’t have a sample selection bias

Question 14

Give 2 weaknesses of stratified sampling.

Answer 14

1) Takes time to establish separate categories and a sampling frame of everyone within them
2) Can lead to a limited sample

Question 15

Define ‘cluster sampling’.

Answer 15

Dividing a population into different clusters (such as postcodes) then randomly selecting from them.

Question 16

Give 2 strengths of cluster sampling.

Answer 16

1) Gives researchers some control over sample

2) Sampling frame only needed for clusters being studied

Question 17

Give 2 weaknesses of cluster sampling.

Answer 17

1) Reduces representativeness

2) Open to sample selection bias of the clusters being chosen

Question 18

Define ‘quota sampling’.

Answer 18

Researchers go out and find people who fit the certain quota that they want in their population, such as a specific characteristic.

Question 19

Give 2 strengths of quota sampling.

Answer 19

1) No sampling frame needed prior

2) Quick and easy way of gaining representative sample of that target population

Question 20

Give 2 weaknesses of quota sampling.

Answer 20

1) Subjective due to being reliant on choice of researcher

2) Might be the certain type of characteristic the researcher wants that would prove their hypothesis

Question 21

Define ‘snowball sampling’.

Answer 21

When the researcher finds ppts they gain contacts through them and find other ppts and so their is a chain-referral of ppts for a sample.

Question 22

Give 2 strengths of snowball sampling.

Answer 22

1) Useful for researchers to find groups who are hidden

2) Easy as the researcher doesn’t need to make a predetermined sampling frame

Question 23

Give 2 weaknesses of snowball sampling.

Answer 23

1) Sample is not representative of wider population and other groups that may not be accounted for as certain people will know certain types of other people who are usually similar to them
2) Trail of ppts may dry up and so is unreliable

Question 24

Define ‘volunteer sampling’.

Answer 24

People put themselves forward to take part in research.

Question 25

Give 2 strengths of volunteer sampling.

Answer 25

1) Easy fro researcher as they wait for ppts to come to them

2) Consent is guaranteed

Question 26

Give 2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling.

Answer 26

1) Where advertisement is placed may affect representativeness
2) Certain people may be interested in the particular topic raised in the research and so lack representativeness

Question 27

Define ‘purposive sampling’.

Answer 27

A sample that is selected based on the characteristics of a population and the research objective.

Question 28

Give 2 strengths of purposive sampling.

Answer 28

1) Can gain representative sample for a target population quickly
2) Can improve representativeness of a study by finding people to make up for bias in the original sample

Question 29

Give 2 weaknesses of purposive sampling.

Answer 29

1) It isn’t representative of the wider population
2) Researchers may purposely look for a population with the characteristics that would prove the hypothesis of their research

Question 30

What is a major criticism Interpretivists would give of the representativeness of sampling procedures.

Answer 30

• Representativeness is largely a Positivist concern and so reject the idea that any sample is representative
• Interpretivists are concerned with individual meanings, thoughts, and motives
• In this context, every individual is unique and so can never be fully generalised