Unit 1 - Populations, Samples, Sampling Techniques Flashcards
What is a target population?
The group of people the researcher has interest in.
What is a sample?
The actual group of participants used in the research.
What is a random sample?
Each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What are the strengths of random sampling?
Equal chance of being selected.
What are the weaknesses of random sampling?
Some may not want to take part in research.
What is a snowball sample?
Participants are asked to contact their friends and family to ask them to also take part.
What are the strengths of snowball sampling?
Simple, easy to carry out.
What are the weaknesses of snowball sampling?
Research has a small amount of control over the sample method. + Research bias.
What is opportunity sampling?
Select most readily available at a given time or place.
What are the strengths of opportunity sampling?
Quick and easy to obtain sample of participants, easier than advertising for volunteers, and accepting first 20 who reply.
What are the weaknesses of opportunity sampling?
May end up with sample of people who, as all in same place/time, might be similar. If want a representative sample, to draw conclusions, opportunity sampling might be less likely to do this, than self-selected.
What is self-selected sampling?
People volunteer to take part in the study.
What are the strengths of self-selected sampling?
Research can put out an advert for particular group of people they want to study.
What are the weaknesses of self-selected sampling?
Not a wide range of people volunteer, only those interested in the study.
