Week Nine

Question 1

What is the sampling process?

Answer 1

1. Define population of interest.
2. Decide whether to sample or census.
3. Decide on sampling frame.
4. Select sampling method.
5. Determine sample size.
6. Implement the sampling procedure.

Question 2

What is the target population?

Answer 2

Who should and shouldn’t be included in the sample.

Question 3

What is a census?

Answer 3

Investigation of all individual elements that make up a population.

Question 4

What is a random sampling error in a survey error?

Answer 4

Variation between the sample mean and the population mean.

Question 5

What is a systematic error in a survey error?

Answer 5

Due to some imperfect aspect of the research design on or from a mistake in the execution of the research.

Question 6

What is response bias?

Answer 6

A bias that occurs when a respondent tends to answer questions with a certain slant that consciously or unconsciously misrepresents the truth.

Question 7

What is a sampling frame?

Answer 7

A list, or set of directions for identifying the target population. Eg. Telephone book, association directory, mailing list, city map, etc.

Question 8

What is sample frame error?

Answer 8

A list that may omit some elements of the population or include other elements which do not belong.

Question 9

What are measures of central tendency?

Answer 9

Mean, median and mode.

Question 10

What are measures of dispersion?

Answer 10

Range and standard deviation

Question 11

What is confidence level?

Answer 11

The probability that the inferences made by analysing the data generated by the sample can be accurately extrapolated to the population.

Question 12

What is standard deviation?

Answer 12

The average distance any given participant’s response to an item will be from the mean. Eg. What is the variance from the MEAN?… Eg. the river is on average 1 metre deep.

Question 13

What are some methods to increase survey response rates?

Answer 13

• preliminary notification
• foot-in-the-door
• personalisation
• anonymity
• response deadline
• appeals
• sponsorship
• incentives
• questionnaire length
• questionnaire size, reproduction, and colour
• type of postage Eg. return envelopes
• follow-ups

Question 14

What are the most common probability (quantitative) sampling methods?

Answer 14

• simple random sampling
• systematic sampling
• stratified random sampling
• cluster sampling
• multistage sampling

Question 15

What are the most common non-probability (qualitative) sampling methods?

Answer 15

• convenience sampling
• judgement sampling
• quota sampling
• snowball sampling