Paper 3 - Sampling methods

Convenience/opportunity

Convenient

Time effective, accessible, easily sourced, readily available.

Limited generalisability

Lack of generalisability, due to a non-probability sampling method, meaning that participants are not chosen randomly from the target population.

Random

Equal selection chance

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected (computerized in random number generator).

Generalisable

Generaslibiliy as the sample is representative of the population, and non biased.

Volunteer

Willingness

Self-selected and willingly offer to participate, often have vested interest in research, and may be a biased sample.

Advertised

Advertise in areas where participants are likely to be. Participants who are interested then get in touch with the researcher

Purposive

Characteristic

Salient or specific characteristics that are of interest to the research team.

Limited generalisability

Lack of generalisability, due to a non-probability sampling method, meaning that participants are not chosen randomly from the target population.

Snowball

Pyramid

Existing participants recruit from their acquaintances

Limited representation

Not representative due to participant characteristics that may skew the data.

Stratified

Division of population

Population is divided into groups based on a key characteristic that is important, and the sample is chosen to reflect the proportion that exists in the population.

Generalisable

Effectively represents the target population, although it is time consuming.