Sampling

Feedback on Literature Review Assignment

• General feedback appears to be positive.

• Acknowledgment of a request for an extension on the literature review assignment.

  • Option provided to push the due date back one week to the following Sunday.

  • Emphasis on keeping the third mini assignment's due date unchanged.

  • Discussion about balancing workload as the term progresses.

  • Importance of quality over timeliness: Prefers a well-written review submitted late rather than a subpar review submitted on time.

Writing Process and Drafting

• Encouragement for students to draft their work ahead of time and to revise their drafts critically.

• Key points for improving writing:

  • Reading fellow students' drafts or seeking help from writing centers can enhance quality.

  • Emphasizes that writing is a skill that improves with practice and time.

  • Suggestion to allow sufficient time for personal assessment and revision:

  • Recommendations for self-critiquing drafts to identify strengths and weaknesses.

  • Importance of starting the literature review assignment early, as waiting until the last minute often leads to lower quality work.

Benefits of Conducting a Literature Review

• The literature review serves multiple purposes:

  • Helps clarify research questions.

  • Aids in revising introductory sections of papers.

  • Students encouraged to closely study articles’ literature reviews for evidence presentation.

  • Noted that effective literature reviews inform the structure and content of subsequent assignments.

  • Encouragement to ethically borrow methodologies from other studies:

  • Example: Using established scales in research for measuring variables.

Structural Concerns About Assignments

• Feedback on the assignment's frequency and writing load:

  • Reassurance that the total writing across the semester equals approximately 10-12 pages, or roughly one page per week.

  • Option presented to explore doing fewer mini assignments in favor of a single, comprehensive final paper:

  • Advantages of ongoing feedback through mini assignments versus a single major paper.

  • Importance of incorporating feedback to enhance quality of final proposals.

Assignment Requirements: Article Questions

• Article questions are designed to ensure engagement with assigned readings:

  • Justification of their necessity to promote critical reading and understanding of the articles.

  • Students discouraged from simply completing readings without engagement.

  • Flexibility in allowing credit for participation without submitting questions discussed.

Discussions on Literature Review Assistance

• Clarification on citation procedures and other questions regarding literature reviews are welcome.

• Announcement of upcoming class focus on sampling methods:

  • Students prompted to discuss concepts related to previous lectures, such as differences between sampling methods.

Sampling Methodologies

Differences in Sampling Techniques

• Discussion of probability versus nonprobability sampling:

  • Probability Sampling: Ensures every element has an equal chance of selection.

  • Nonprobability Sampling: Does not guarantee equal selection chances and may introduce bias.

• Examples provided for both sampling types:

  • Probability Sampling:

  • Includes techniques like simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, and cluster sampling.

  • Nonprobability Sampling:

  • Includes convenience sampling, snowball sampling, quota sampling, and purposive sampling.

Specific Types of Probability Sampling

• Simple Random Sample:

  • Selection from a complete list (sampling frame) ensures each element has an equal chance of selection, often using random number generators.

• Systematic Sample:

  • Involves selecting elements at regular intervals; requires an initially random starting point.

  • Example: Selecting every third individual after a random start.

• Stratified Sample:

  • Ensures representation of specified strata within the population (e.g. gender, age) through random selection from each stratum.

• Cluster Sample:

  • Involves sampling at multiple levels (e.g. randomly selected groups or clusters and then sampled individuals within those clusters).

Core Concepts of Sampling Methods

• Population: The complete group of elements being studied.

• Element: Individual observations or respondents within that population.

• Sampling Frame: An approximate list of all elements within the population used for sampling.

Importance of Understanding Sampling in Research

• Clarification that effective sampling strategies help researchers draw valid inferences about larger populations.

• Emphasis on randomness in sampling to mitigate bias:

  • Significant disparities in samples can lead to flawed interpretations of data.

• Students reminded of the importance of understanding both sampling methods as they ultimately relate to the success of their research projects.

Class Engagement and Advocacy for Student Voices

• Encouragement for students to express their thoughts and questions:

  • Importance of finding and using their voices in discussions not only in this class but throughout their academic careers.

  • Message of empowerment and involvement highlighted for students.

Group Work Assignment

• Transition to group activities to encourage collaboration and application of learned concepts.