Sampling

Question 1

Volunteer sampling

Answer 1

Participants volunteer themselves after seeing an advertisement for participants

Question 2

Strengths of volunteer sampling

Answer 2

• access to a variety of PPS- more likely to get representative sample
• relatively cheap
• fast method
• pps will more likely to be co operative as they wanted to do it

Question 3

Limitations of volunteer sampling

Answer 3

• likely to be a biased sample (volunteer sample) as only a certain type of people will want to do it
• sample may be different as it’ll target certain people unconsciously due to type of study etc
• pps may try to be seen as socially acceptable/show demand characteristics

Question 4

Opportunity sampling

Answer 4

Sample collected by asking individuals who are available at the time and for the criteria you’re looking for. Pps chosen as they are convenient; may have volunteered or may be known to researcher

Question 5

Strengths of opportunity sampling

Answer 5

• quick as they spent no time planning or using sophisticated systems for selection
• cheap

Question 6

Limitations of opportunity sampling

Answer 6

• non representative sample is likely so can be hard to generalise findings
• may try to be seen as socially acceptable and show demand characteristics
• researcher bias when selecting

Question 7

Random sampling

Answer 7

Every member of the population has equal chance of being chosen
Pps are chosen mathematically using chance e.g. electoral register

Question 8

Strengths of Random sampling

Answer 8

Avoids bias as the researcher has no control who’s chosen

The law of probability says that the researcher will normally get a representative sample

Question 9

Limitations of random sampling

Answer 9

• time consuming, all potential pps need to be identified before a sample can be drawn
• small chance that a ‘freak’ sample may be drawn which is unrepresentative