Sampling Flashcards

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1
Q

Define population

A

The target group of people being studied (based on age, gender, etc.)

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1
Q

Define participant

A

An individual who is recruited to take part in a psychological study

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2
Q

Define sample

A

The group of participants gathered to take part in the study, who represent the population.

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3
Q

Define representative

A

When the sample’s characteristics closely matches those of the target population.

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4
Q

Define generalisation

A

The extent to which the study’s conclusions can be applied to the broader population.

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5
Q

Define bias

A

When certain groups of the target population are over/under-represented within the sample (for various reasons)

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6
Q

Name the 5 types of sampling

A
  • Random
  • Volunteer
  • Opportunity
  • Systematic
  • Stratified
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7
Q

Explain random sampling

A

All members of the target population are put into a list and given a number – participants are selected “lottery style”, using a computer-based randomiser or picking numbers from a hat. All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected.

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8
Q

Evaluate random sampling

A

Pros:
- Representative of the target population
- Everyone has an equal chance of being chosen

Cons:
- Difficult to have access to
every member of the target
population
- Time consuming
- If anyone rejects or withdraws
their participation, the sample
becomes less random

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9
Q

Explain volunteer sampling

A

Participants put themselves forward to be part of the research, usually in response to an advertisement
produced by the researcher.

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10
Q

Evaluate volunteer sampling

A

Pros:
- Very little effort needed from
the researcher
- Makes finding participants for
more specific research easier

Cons:
- Less representative of the
target population - usually a specific type of
person volunteers (extroverts)

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11
Q

Explain opportunity sampling

A

Made up of people who are easily obtained by the researcher, and who
are willing to take part in the research.

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12
Q

Evaluate opportunity sampling

A

Pros:
- Quickest ways to
gather a sample
- Convenient for the
researcher
- Less time consuming

Cons:
- Not as representative of the
target population
- People may feel obligated to
participate depending on their
closeness to the researcher

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13
Q

Explain systematic sampling

A

All members of the target population are put into a list and given a number – every nth person in this list is selected.

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14
Q

Evaluate systematic sampling

A

Pros:
- Avoids researcher bias
(once the researcher has
established the system of
selection, they have no influence
over who is selected)
- More representative of the
target population

Cons:
- Takes a lot of effort to achieve
- Time consuming and
- Can be expensive

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15
Q

Explain stratified sampling

A

The researcher identifies all the different subgroups within the target population and the sample is collected to specifically match the target population – a small number of participants are gathered from each
subgroup.

16
Q

Evaluate stratified sampling

A

Pros:
- Best method for getting a representative sample,
- Results and conclusions of the study are more generalisable

Cons:
- Time consuming, it can take a lot of effort and time to gather a
sample that is truly representative
- If any participants withdraw their consent, the sample becomes less representative