Methods and sampling

mixed methods / pluralism

S: high validity as many angles are used to find answers, participants are reflected more accurately = increased validty

W: time consuming and expensive = decreased generalisability, difficult to combine findings = low reliability

triangulation

S: eliminates bias as its cross-checked, increasing validity, participants are reflected more accurately = increased validity

W: expensive and time consuming, decreasing generalisability, different methods may produce conflicting results, decreasing reliability

reflexivity

S: aims to look at social reality which increses validity, researchers think critically of methods to ensure a true picture is gathered = validity, reviewing how role impacts validity

W: researchers may be biased which decreases reliability, researchers feelings remove objectivity = less reliable

respondent validation

S: high validity as there is looking into social reality, researchers gain feedback from participants = validity, no researcher bias = validity

W: participants may change opinions, decreasing reliability, respondants may disagree with interpretations = lower validity.

random sampling

S: random sampling increases reliability as it can be replicated, more representitive due to individuals having equal chance at being selected

W: lack representativeness as its completely random, wider claims cant be made about wider pop = generalisability

systematic sampling

S: supports reliability as research is standardised = repeatable, representitive as it reflects specific groups

W: may not accurately represent specific group = unrepresentitive, some individuals are excluded decreasing generalisability

Stratified sampling

S: supports reliability as it is systematic and therefore repeatable, is representitive as it reflects the specific group being studied

W: time consuming process which decreases representitiveness, may be a bias or small sample, decreasing generalisability

quota sampling - specific people who fit pre-defined catagerories

S: representitve sample as it is reflective of specific group, quick, cheap and flexible, meaning it is representitive and more generalizeable
W: reliability is reduced as researchers are using their own judgement so select participants, all quotas may not be filled so samples arent accurate, drecreasing representitiveness

snowball sampling : finding 1-2 people that fit criteria and asking them to find more

S: representitive as it uncovers those in the hidden population as the researchers themselves dont find participants, generalisable as researcher doesnt spend time/money gathering samples

W: low reliability as it would be hard to repeat due to lack of scientific nature, sample may not fairly reflect wider group = lacking generalisability

purposive sampling - researchers use own judgement to pick participants

S: representitive as researchers choose participants with specific knowledge / charecteristics, can get information from relevant people = validity

W: hard to replicate so lower reliability, lacks generalisability as they are chosen for their unique charecteristics

Opportunity sampling - selects whoever is available at the time

S: easy to repeat as there is no way to choose sample = reliable, researcher has wide range of participants which increases representitiveness

W: prone to reasearcher bias as they have control over who they approach = reliability, lacks generalisability as sample only includes those in specific location at that specific time

volunteering sampling - volunteers choose to take part

S: representitive as random people choose to be used, not those with specific charecteristics, generalisable as it can target many people in short amount of time

W: decreased reliability as its based on self selection, different ad would attract different people, lacks generalisability as its on a volunteer basis and isnt reflective of charecterstics.