Sampling techniques

Question 1

What is sampling?

Answer 1

The process of selecting participants to study from the sampling frame.

Question 2

What is a sampling frame?

Answer 2

List of names taken from the target population from which the sample will be selected.

Question 3

What is a target population?

Answer 3

Whole group of people that the researcher is interested in studying.

Question 4

What are the 5 types of sampling?

Answer 4

Random
Systematic
Stratified
Opportunity
Volunteer

Question 5

What is random sampling?

Answer 5

Members of a population have an equal chance of being selected. To do this, a random number table/generator is used to select participants.

Question 6

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 6

Involves taking every ‘nth’ item from the sampling frame, eg. every tenth name from a register.

Question 7

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 7

Made up of different ‘layers’ of the population. For example, selecting people from different age groups or ethnicities so it mirrors the distribution of particular groups in a larger population.

Question 8

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 8

Using anyone who happens to be available at the time of the research as the sample.

Question 9

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 9

Participants volunteer themselves to be part of the sample - also known as self selection. This may be done through adverts in a newspaper, for example.