Sampling Methods (RM P2)

Question 1

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 1

Anyone in the vicinity who is willing and available

Question 2

adv opportunity sampling

Answer 2

• Less costly in time/money
• List of members of target population is not needed
• No need to divide population into different strata

Question 3

disadv opportunity sample

Answer 3

• Unrepresentative of target population
• Findings cannot be generalised
• Researcher bias: may not choose people they don’t like the look of

Question 4

What is random sampling?

Answer 4

All members of target population have an equal chance of being selected

Question 5

adv random sampling

Answer 5

• Unbiased
• Internal validity enhanced

Question 6

disadv random sampling

Answer 6

• Difficult
• Time consuming
• Complete list of target population may be hard to obtain

Question 7

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 7

Reflects properties of people in subgroups of the target population

Question 8

adv stratified sampling

Answer 8

• Produces a representable sample
• Generalisation of findings becomes possible

Question 9

disadv stratified sampling

Answer 9

• Identified strata represents nothing of what ways people are different
• Complete representation of the target population not possible

Question 10

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 10

Every nth member of the target population is selected

Question 11

adv systematic sampling

Answer 11

• Objective
• Researcher has no influence over who is chosen

Question 12

disadv systematic sampling

Answer 12

• Time consuming
• Participants may refuse to take part resulting in a volunteer sample

Question 13

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 13

Self-selected sample often replying to an advert

Question 14

adv volunteer sampling

Answer 14

• Minimum input from researcher
• Less time consuming
• More engaged participants

Question 15

disadv volunteer sampling

Answer 15

• Volunteer bias
• May attract certain profile
• May be more likely to try to please the researcher