Sampling Techiniques(research methods)

Question 1

Target population

Answer 1

The wider group of people that research findings should apply to

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

The section of the target population which is chosen to take part

Question 3

Biased sample

Answer 3

A sample that is not representative of the target population

Question 4

Representative sample

Answer 4

A cross- section that is typical of the target population

Question 5

The 5 sample techniques

Answer 5

Opportunity sampling
Self- selected 
Random 
Snowball
Stratified

Question 6

Opportunity sampling

Answer 6

Ppts are chosen because they are convenient

Those who are there at the time and willing to take part

Question 7

Strengths of opportunity sampling

Answer 7

Less time consuming than other techniques because time is not spend planning and selecting (convenient)
Researcher can’t now the selection because they just have to use who is there

Question 8

Weakness of opportunity sampling

Answer 8

Unrepresentative

• there may be an imbalance of gender/ age/ ethnic group
• if ppl come from the same locality they may be similar in terms of their characteristics or they may have similar attributes

Question 9

Self- selected sampling

Answer 9

Ppts volunteer themselves to take part in the study

Question 10

Strengths of self selected sampling

Answer 10

The ppts in your sample are willing volunteers- more ethical
May be more likely to focus on the task and take it seriously
May get a wide range of ppts

Question 11

Weakness of self selected sampling

Answer 11

Likely to be bused because only certain types of people will volunteer themselves for psychology research, they may be similar in terms of their characteristics

Greater possibility of demand characteristics bias

Question 12

Random sampling

Answer 12

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Question 13

Strengths of random sampling

Answer 13

It avoids bias as the researcher has no control over who is selected
The researcher will normally get a representative sample

Question 14

Weaknesses of random sampling

Answer 14

It is time- consuming because all potential ppts need to be identified before a sample can be drawn
There is a small chance that a freak sample may drawn, which would be unrepresentative

Question 15

Snowball sampling

Answer 15

Pick one person from the target population to take part and ask them to tell a friend to come and take part

Question 16

Strengths of snowball sampling

Answer 16

Useful when the ppts u need are not easy to find

Question 17

Weaknesses of snowball sampling

Answer 17

Can be highly unrepresentative

Question 18

Stratified sampling

Answer 18

Mirroring proportions of the whole population

Question 19

Strengths of stratified sampling

Answer 19

Should be representative of the target population

Question 20

Weaknesses of stratified sampling

Answer 20

Time consuming because the categories have to be identified and calculated