Methods: Sampling Techniques Flashcards
What is a Sampling Unit?
Each individual member of the sample. Also referred to as respondents or participants.
What is a Sample?
A small subgroup that are selected from the larger research/target population.
Target/Research population
The community or group that is relevant to the research e.g students, criminals, homeless, LGBTQ individuals ect.
Why do Sociologists choose a sample?
For practical reasons sociological research cannot involve the entire relevant population, therefore sociologists choose a sample
What is a Sampling Frame?
A list or database of the relevant research/target population. E.g registers in schools.
What is macrosociology?
Where sociologists want to apply findings from research to the rest of the target population.
What should Samples be?
A microcosm of the larger target population. A cross-section of the research population.
What should Samples be?
A microcosm of the larger target population. A cross-section of the research population, so generalisations can be made
Representative Sampling:
Random sampling
Where the sample is selected purely by chance and everyone has an equal chance of being selected, e.g names drawn out of a hat. A large enough random sample should reflect the characteristics (e.g age, gender, ethnicity, class ect.) of the whole research population. However not all random samples are large enough to ensure representativeness.
Representative Sampling:
Quasi-random, Systematic Sampling
Where every nth (relevant number or formula) person in the sampling frame is selected. E.g Every fourth name in a list.
Representative Sampling:
Stratified Random Sampling
Where the researcher first breaks down (stratifies) the population in the sampling frame by age, gender, ethnicity ect. The sample is then created in the same proportions, e.g if 20% of the population are U18, 20% of the sample would be U18.
Representative Sampling:
Quota Sampling
Where the population is stratified, and then each is given a quota (specific number) of e.g 20m males and 20 females, which they have to fill with respondents who fit these characteristics. The interviewer keeps at this task until the quota is filled.
Non-representative Sampling:
Snowball Sampling
Involves collecting a sample by contacting a key number of individuals who are asked to suggest others who would participate in the research, thus adding to the sample ‘snowball’ fashion. Although not representative, it is a useful way to contact a sample of people who may otherwise be difficult to find.
Non-representative Sampling:
Opportunity Sampling
Involved choosing from those individuals who are easiest to access or a captive audience. However, this sample is unlikely to be representative.
Choosing to use Non-representative Sampling:
Theoretical, Methodological Perspective
Interpretivists engage in a micro level of analysis as they are more concerned with gaining a valid understanding of behaviour than to discover general laws of behaviour. Therefore they often choose to use non representative samples.
