Sampling For Quantitative Studies

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

• all individuals of interest to the researcher
• the larger group from which a sample is taken

Question 2

What is a sample?

Answer 2

• a representative subset of the population that contains the essential element of that population
• a group of study participants
  -sample from the population

Question 3

How do I select a sample from a population for a quantitative study? (1st)

Answer 3

Probability sampling= the goal is for an equal probability of individuals/units in a population to be selected

Question 4

What are examples of probability sampling?

Answer 4

Random selection, systematic sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling

Question 5

Random selection?

Answer 5

Every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected for the sample

Question 6

Systematic sampling?

Answer 6

Every Nth entry from a list is used for selection

Question 7

Stratified random sampling?

Answer 7

The population is divided and grouped (in representative proportion) on a characteristic before random selection

Question 8

Cluster sampling?

Answer 8

Each group (i.e. cluster) has an equal probability of being selected

Question 9

How do i select a sample form a population for a quantitative study? (2nd)

Answer 9

Non-probability sampling= participants are chosen based on a non-random method

Question 10

What are 2 examples of non-probability sampling?

Answer 10

• convenience sampling= selected based on familiarity or convenience
• purposive sampling= sample that reflects the characteristic of interest

Question 11

Examples of purposive sampling?

Answer 11

Snowball sampling, quota sampling, expert sampling

Question 12

Which sampling strategy is better?

Answer 12

Probability sampling: provides representative sample from a population, allows more confidence to make generalization to a population
Non probability: less expensive and convenient, makes harder to have confidence in generalizations

Question 13

What are things to keep in mind when recruiting participants?

Answer 13

• ethics
  -accessing and contacting potential participants (email, over phone, in person)
• need to convince individuals of importance of your research
• consider providing compensation (not coercion, but for appreciation of time)
• show enthusiasm for research!