Research Methods: Sampling Techniques - KU

Question 1

A group of people who are the focus of the researcher are called?

Answer 1

Target Population

Question 2

Define Target Population

Answer 2

The group of people the researcher is interested in

Question 3

What is a sample?

Answer 3

A group of people taken from the target population to take part in the research

Question 4

What is the name for the group of people who are taken from the target population to take part in the research?

Answer 4

Sample

Question 5

Name the sampling technique whereby every person has an equal chance of people selected

Answer 5

Random Sampling

Question 6

What is random sampling?

Answer 6

Every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Question 7

Complete the missing steps for how to carry out random sampling

1. Create a complete list of all the target population
3. Without looking select the number you want in your sample from the hat

Answer 7

2. Write the names on equal size pieces of paper and put in a hat

Question 8

Why is random sampling time consuming?

Answer 8

This is because it takes time and can be difficult collecting all the names of the ppts to take part in the study & people may not be willing to take part.

Question 9

Which 2 sampling methods are the most time consuming?

Answer 9

Random sampling
Stratified sampling

Question 10

Define systematic sampling

Answer 10

A ‘system’ that is applied to select ppts

Question 11

e.g. selecting every 4th or 8th person until there are enough ppts for your sample

What sampling method is it?

Answer 11

Systematic sampling

Question 12

How does systematic sampling avoid researcher bias?

Answer 12

The researcher has no influence over who is chosen to take part in the study - as it is objective once the system to select ppts is established

Question 13

If the researcher has no influence over who is chosen to take part in the study, and it is an objective way to select ppts - what does this sampling method NOT suffer from?

Answer 13

Researcher Bias

Question 14

Identify one problem with systematic sampling

Answer 14

Might not be representative

Question 15

Why might systematic sampling not be representative?

Answer 15

Not everyone has an equal chance of being picked therefore it is difficult to generalise the findings to the target population

Question 16

Why might systematic sampling be time consuming?

Answer 16

Creating a system and collecting names could be time consuming and difficult for the researcher

Question 17

What is meant by stratified sampling

Answer 17

An advanced way of sampling where the make-up of the sample reflects the proportions of certain sub-groups in the target population

Question 18

e.g. 70% of the target population is male then 70% of the sample will be female too

What sampling method is this?

Answer 18

Stratified sampling

Question 19

Complete the missing step:

1. Identify the sub groups that make up a population e.g. males and females
2. Calculate how many of each proportion you would need for your sample

3.

Answer 19

3. No. of ppts which make up each proportion are chosen using random sampling

Question 20

If the scenario does give you % - what is the formula for stratified sampling

Answer 20

sample size wanted/100 x percentage size of sub group

Question 21

Why is stratified the most representative?

Answer 21

It accurately reflects the make-up of the target population in the correct proportions, meaning the findings can be generalised

Question 22

Why is it more appropriate to generalise the findings for stratified sampling?

Answer 22

Stratified sampling accurately reflects the make-up of the target population in the correct proportions

Question 23

Why is stratified sampling so time consuming?

Answer 23

It takes time to work out the proportions of the PPTs needed and it is not guaranteed PPTs would consent to take part

Question 24

What is meant by opportunity sampling?

Answer 24

Selecting participants that are there at the moment in time - for example waiting for PTTs in the canteen during period 3 and asking the first 30 PPTs who walk past to participate

Question 25

How might you carry out opportunity sampling?

Answer 25

Go somewhere where you will have access to the population you want to study and ask the first 30 PPTs who are there at the moment in time if they will take part

Question 26

Why might opportunity sampling be less time consuming than random sampling?

Answer 26

Opportunity sampling is less time consuming as less money is required because you choose who is available at the time for your sample, unlike random sampling which takes a long time to identify everyone in the target population

Question 27

Explain why opportunity sampling might not be the most representative of the target population

Answer 27

PPTs picked from the sample are present in the same place at the same time, doing similar things therefore might have similar personalities - making it difficult to generalise findings to the wider population

Question 28

Define self selected

Answer 28

Where PPTs volunteer themselves to be participants in a research study

Question 29

What is meant by volunteer sampling?

Answer 29

It is a self selected method where people volunteer themselves to be PPTs

Question 30

How do you obtain PPTs from volunteer sampling?

Answer 30

Place an advert where people in the target population will see it and wait for the first 30 people to reply

Question 31

What sampling method requires people to respond to an advert?

Answer 31

Volunteer sample

Question 32

What is a strength of volunteer sampling?

Answer 32

Very quick, easy and cheap to conduct as all you do is place and advert and wait for your PPTs to volunteer

Question 33

Why might volunteer sampling be more appropriate than random sampling?

Answer 33

Volunteer sampling is quick, easy and cheap to carry out as all you do is place an advert for the study where the target population will be unlike random sampling which takes time to place names in a hat and give the population an equal chance of being picked

Question 34

Explain why volunteer sampling might not be representative?

Answer 34

Only certain personality types will volunteer (extrovert/curious) making it difficult to generalise the findings to the target population