Sampling Flashcards
What is a target population?
The group that the study applies to
What is a sampling frame?
The source of the sample - a list that people are chosen from
What is a sample?
Those who are studied
What does representative mean?
Fairly reflecting a population in terms of social characteristics
e.g. class, age, gender
What is a sampling unit?
An individual or indivisible group
What are the three types of random sampling?
Simple
Systematic
Stratified
What is simple random sampling?
Complete random selection of units
Usually done by a computer
What is systematic random sampling?
Picking one unit then every Nth unit thereafter
What is stratified random sampling?
Dividing a population according to social characteristic and picking randomly from these sub-groups
What are the five types of non-probability sampling?
Quota
Snowball
Purposive
Volunteer
Opportunity
What is quota sampling?
A sociologist personally choosing people from the social characteristic groups
What are the advantages and disadvantages of quota sampling?
A - sociologist has control
D - may lead to biased results
What is snowball sampling?
Finding one unit and asking if they know anyone else who would take part
What are the advantages and disadvantages of snowball sampling?
A - helpful if the target population is hard to access
D - may attract very similar people
What is purposive sampling?
A sociologist seeking the type of person they want to study
What is an example of purposive sampling?
Hodkinson looking to study goths
What is volunteer sampling?
A self-selecting sample
What are the advantages and disadvantages of volunteer samples?
A - easy to collect sample
D - may attract the same type of people
What is an example of volunteer sampling?
Hite’s survey on happiness in relationships mainly attracted unhappy women
What is opportunity sampling?
Collecting a sample from the people around the sociologist
What is an issue with opportunity sampling?
May lead to similar people taking part
Why is stratified random sampling the most representative?
Takes into account the proportion of a population which fits certain characteristics
Why do some sociologists choose non-random sampling?
To have control over the sample group
Which non-random sampling techniques give the sociologist the most control?
Quota or purposive
What are the advantages of simple and systematic random sampling?
Statistically likely to be representative
No bias
Easy to do
What are the disadvantages of simple and systematic random sampling?
Bad frame = bad sample
May get an unrepresentative freak sample
What are the advantages and disadvantages of stratified random sampling?
Representative
Less likely to be a freak sample
More control
But, more complex as info is needed before sampling
