Samples and sampling techniques

Question 1

Samples

Answer 1

A group of participants which are representative of the target population. This means findings are generalisable.

Question 2

Opportunity sampling

Answer 2

Using participants that are readily available.
+efficient, least costly, easy and quick
-may not be representative

Question 3

Snowball Sampling

Answer 3

Ask one participant to invite others, the process repeats
+easy to obtain participants
-may all be similar to each other meaning that the sample may not be representative

Question 4

Volunteer sampling

Answer 4

self-selected
+representative, may reach a wider range of participants
-People who are not confident enough to take part or have a strong motive to participate will not respond=less likely to have a representative sample

Question 5

Random sampling

Answer 5

Put names of the target population in the research into a hat and pull out names at random(20+ to be representative). Contact them to see if they want to take part. If they don’t pull out another name and repeat the process as many times as needed.
+least biased, equal chance of selection and can be representative
-long process, not everyone will want to take part. If certain people are overrepresented=bias