populations and sampling

Question 1

define a population

Answer 1

a group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest (from which a smaller sample is drawn)

Question 2

define sample

Answer 2

a group of people who take part in a research investigation

Question 3

define sampling techniques

Answer 3

methods used to select people from the population

Question 4

define bias

Answer 4

when certain groups are under/over represented within the sample selected

Question 5

what are the 5 types of sampling

Answer 5

random
systematic
stratified
opportunity
volunteer

Question 6

explain what random sampling is

Answer 6

all members of the target population have an equal opportunity of being selected

actual sample is selected through the use of the lottery method

Question 7

explain what systematic sampling is

Answer 7

every nth member of the target population is selected

Question 8

explain what stratified sampling is

Answer 8

composition of the sample reflects the proportion of people in strata within the target population

Question 9

explain what opportunity sampling is

Answer 9

researchers select anyone who is willing to take part are available

Question 10

explain what volunteer sampling is

Answer 10

participants select themselves to be a part of the sample

Question 11

evaluate random sampling

Answer 11

+ unbiased
- time consuming
(complete list of target population is hard to obtain)

Question 12

Evaluate systematic sampling

Answer 12

+ the researcher has no control over who is chosen

• Time consuming

Question 13

Evaluate stratified sampling

Answer 13

+ easy to make generalisations
- complete representation of target population is impossible

Question 14

evaluate volunteer sampling

Answer 14

+ More engaged participants

• attracts people who are people pleasers and therefore there are demand characteristics

Question 15

evaluate opportunity sampling

Answer 15

+ it’s quick and therefore less costly
- researcher bias