Sampling Techniques

Question 1

What is a target population?

Answer 1

The group who researchers are studying and want to generalise their results to

Question 2

What are sampling techniques?

Answer 2

Studies involve samples drawn from a larger population:

• used to obtain a sample of the target population + essential to avoid studying entire target population (too long + expensive)

Question 3

What should a sample be?

Answer 3

• representative of the whole population

- so that findings can be generalised to the target population

Question 4

What is random sampling?

Answer 4

When every member of the target population has the same chance of being selected = easiest way to do this is to place all names from target population in a hat and draw out the sample required OR computer generated/ no. generated

Question 5

What is an ad of random sampling?

Answer 5

The sample is likely to be representative + therefore results can be generalised to the target popularion

Question 6

What is a disad of random sampling?

Answer 6

Sample unrepresentative:

Sometimes difficult to get full details of a target population from which to select a sample

Also, not all members of the target population who are selected will be available or willing to take part

Question 7

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 7

Systematic sampling is a sampling technique where participants are selected by taking every Nth person from a list

Question 8

What is an ad of systematic sampling?

Answer 8

Systematic sampling is far simpler than random sampling

Question 9

What is a disad of systematic sampling?

Answer 9

Process of selection can interact w/ a hidden periodic trait within the target population = if sample technique coincides w/ periodicity of the trait, sampling technique will no longer be representative

Question 10

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 10

Stratified sampling involves classifying the target population into categories + then randomly choosing a sample that consists of parts from each category in the same proportions as they appear in the target population

Question 11

What is an ad of stratified sampling?

Answer 11

All groups within a target population are included = sample should be representative of target population

Question 12

What is a disad of stratified sampling?

Answer 12

Can be very time consuming as categories have to be identified + calculated = if you don’t have details of all people in your target population, can struggle to conduct a stratified sample

Question 13

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 13

Opportunity sampling involves selecting participants who are readily available + willing to take part

Question 14

What is an ad of opportunity sampling?

Answer 14

The easiest + most practical method of ensuring large samples

Question 15

What is a disad of opportunity sampling?

Answer 15

Hugh chance that sample will not be representative of the target population = sometimes ppl feel obliged to take part in when they don’t want to = unethical

Question 16

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 16

Volunteer sampling involves people self-selecting to participate in a study = researcher will usually advertise for ppl to take part in their research

Question 17

What is an ad of volunteer sampling?

Answer 17

Can be a useful way of finding specific people to take part in particular areas of research

Question 18

What is a disad of volunteer sampling?

Answer 18

A certain type of person (people who are curious, confident, enthusiastic, interesting psychology, helpful) tends to volunteer for research = means that there is a very high chance that sample obtained will be unrepresentative (volunteer bias)