Give two advantages of random sampling.
- Everyone has an equal chance of being chosen, which reduces researcher bias.
- Quick and easy.
Random sampling is when…
every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
Give two disadvantages of random sampling.
- Requires an accurate, up to date, and complete sampling frame.
- Can be seen as unrepresentative.
What is quota sampling?
When before the research is carried out, the researcher is told how many respondents of a particular type are required.
What are two disadvantages of quota sampling?
- Not random as each person in the population doesn’t have the same chance of being selected.
- The researcher may have to ask some personal questions so see if they fit the criteria. This may put people off.
State two advantages of quota sampling.
- Allows the researcher to control variables without a sampling frame.
- Quick and cheap.
What is meant by systematic/quasi sampling?
Selecting every nth name from a sampling frame.
Give two advantages of systematic/quasi sampling.
- Quick and easy to carry out.
- Creates an element of structure in a sampling frame.
State two disadvantages of systematic/quasi sampling.
- Cannot guarantee a representative sample.
- Requires and accurate, up to date, and complete sampling frame.
Explain stratified sampling.
When the sample is split down into sub groups and participants are selected randomly from these groups. The sub groups must be the same proportion as in the target population studied, to protect representativeness.
Give two advantages of stratified sampling.
- Allows the researcher to control variables that are important to the research.
- It increases precision and is proportionally representative.
What are two disadvantages of stratified sampling?
- It’s complex and time consuming to identify strata and sample the various sub groups.
- It’s not practical as the sampling frame doesn’t contain the information required to split the population into groups.
Snowball sampling is…
a non-representative technique that involves using personal contacts to build up a sample group.
What are two disadvantages of snowball sampling?
- Not representative as people included are part of a network of contacts.
- May run out of participants making it difficult to generalise.
State two advantages of snowball sampling.
- No sampling frame is needed.
- Can allow access to sensitive and secretive groups.
What is meant by opportunity sampling?
A non-representative technique that involves selecting those who are conveniently available to the researcher.
Give two advantages of opportunity sampling.
- Quick, cheap and easy.
- No sampling frame os needed.
What are two disadvantages of opportunity sampling?
- It is not representative.
- It’s biased as choice of person relies on the judgement of the researcher.
What is a target population?
The large group of people about which sociologists wish to draw conclusions.
What is meant by a sample?
A small group of participants selected from the target population.
A representative sample is when…
The sample reflects the larger population, and therefore can be generalised more easily.
Non-representative sampling is when…
A sample does not reflect the wider population.
A sample frame is…
A list of people from which a sample will be drawn.
What are four reasons why sociologists sample?
- To save time.
- To save money,
- Geographical convenience
- Impractical to survey everybody in a target population.
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Research Methods Key Terms15
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Types Of Diversity & Reasons27
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Unstructured Participant Observation15
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Structured Non-participant Observation6
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Modernist Views On Family Diversity28
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Official Statistics24
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Postmodernist Views On Family Diversity7
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Overt Participation Observation10
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Sampling Methods25
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Other Type Of Research5
