Sampling Methods

Question 1

What is volunteer sampling

Answer 1

Here the sample consists of people who have self-selected themselves to be in the study.

Question 2

Volunteer sampling- Strengths

Answer 2

• Less time consuming.

Question 3

Volunteer sampling- Weakness

Answer 3

• Suffers from volunteer bias.

Question 4

What is opportunity sampling

Answer 4

Participants who are both accessible and willing to take part are targeted.

Question 5

Opportunity sampling- Strengths

Answer 5

• Low time and effort required.

Question 6

Opportunity sampling- Weakness

Answer 6

• Highly unrepresentative.
• Suffers from researcher bias.

Question 7

What is random sampling

Answer 7

This method gives every member of the target group an equal chance of being selected for the sample.

Question 8

Random sampling- Strengths

Answer 8

• No researcher bias.
• Likely to be more representative than some other methods.

Question 9

Random sampling- Weakness

Answer 9

• Time consuming.
• Sample could be unrepresentative.
• Participants may refuse to take part.

Question 10

What is systematic sampling

Answer 10

Researchers select members of the population at a regular interval determined in advance.

Question 11

Systematic sampling- Strengths

Answer 11

• No researcher bias.
• Usually fairly representative.

Question 12

Systematic sampling- Weakness

Answer 12

• Possible sample bias.

Question 13

What is stratified sampling

Answer 13

Classifying the target population into categories and then choosing a sample which consists of participants from each category in the same proportions as they are in the target population.

Question 14

Stratified sampling- Strengths

Answer 14

• No researcher bias.
• Highly representative.

Question 15

Stratified sampling- Weakness

Answer 15

• Very time consuming.
• Strata may not be fully representative of everyone.