sampling techniques and ethical issues

Question 1

What is the definition of population and sample

Answer 1

. population - A group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest
. sample - A group of people in a piece of research - sample is drawn and is representative of that population

Question 2

what is the definition of Bias and Generalisability

Answer 2

. Bias - When certain groups may be over or under represented
. Generalisability - Extent to which findings + conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population

Question 3

What is a random sample and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 3

• All members have an equal chance of being selected
  strengths - prevents bias from researcher
  weaknesses - May not be representative of the whole population
  difficult
  time consuming

Question 4

What is a systematic sample and what are the strengths

Answer 4

every nth member (same interval) is selected
e.g. every 3rd person (3,6,9,12)
- strengths
avoids researcher bias
usually a fair representative

Question 5

what is a stratified sample and what are the strengths and weaknesses

Answer 5

composition of sample reflects proportions of people in certain sub-groups e.g. (40% support man city meaning out of 20 8 will support man city)
- strengths
avoids researcher bias representative sample
generalisation is possible
- weaknesses
complete representation cannot be met

Question 6

What is an opportunity sample and what are the strengths and weaknesses

Answer 6

Selecting anyone who is willing and available
- Strengths
cheap
fast
convenient
- weaknesses
unrepresentative
researcher bias

Question 7

What is a volunteer sample and what are the strengths and weaknesses

Answer 7

people selecting themselves to be apart of the sample
- strengths
minimal input from the researcher
less time consuming
- weaknesses
volunteer bias (most people will be confident and helpful etc)

Question 8

what is the definition of ethical issues and BPS

Answer 8

Ethical issues - Arise when conflict exists between rights of participants in research
BPS - British psychological society, instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and is not acceptable

Question 9

what is deception and how to deal with the ethical issues

Answer 9

Deliberately or withholding information in any stage or not giving adequate information
(justified if info is going to cause distress or mess with the results)
Ethical issues = give a full debrief of the investigation
give them the right to withhold data if they have been deceived and told what the study really was.

Question 10

What is the right to withdraw and how to deal with the ethical issues

Answer 10

make sure every participant knows that they can withdraw at any stage of the research
Ethical issues =
sign a form
can withdraw at any time and keep their information

Question 11

What is informed consent and how to deal with the ethical issues

Answer 11

Making participants aware of aims of the research
participants should should make a judgment without feeling forced or obliged
Ethical issues =
participants should should sign a form with all the relevant details about the investigation included

Question 12

what is protection from harm and how can the ethical issues be solved

Answer 12

participants must not be placed at anymore risk than they would in their daily lives
(Protected from physical/psychological harm)
ethical issues =
- counselling psychologically harmed
- full debrief after investigation

Question 13

what is privacy and confidentiality and how to deal with the ethical issues

Answer 13

participants have the right to control information about themselves and participants personal data should be protected
Ethical issues =
simply record no personal details
Refer using numbers or initials