Sampling

3.2.3 Research Methods

sampling

sampling

selecting a subset of individuals from the larger population, to study and draw inferences about the entire population

sampling technique

method used to select people from the population

bias (sampling)

occurs when a certain group is under- or overrepresented within the sample group

generalisation

the extent to which findings from an investigation can be applied to the wider population

population

a group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s work, from which a smaller sample is selected

random sampling

every member of the population has the same chance of being chosen (e.g. assigning each participant a number then using a random number generator)

systematic sampling

selecting every n^th member of the population (e.g. every 5^th person on a register)

opportunity sampling

researcher selects anyone who is willing and available (e.g. waiting on a street)

volunteer sampling

participants select to participate themselves (e.g. answering a postal questionnaire)

stratified sampling

researcher divides the target population into subgroups (strata) based on key characteristics, then randomly selecting participants from each subgroup in proportion to their representation in the population