Sampling
- Created by: SophieMae
- Created on: 21-02-14 14:11
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- Sampling
- Samples
- 'sample' = smaller part of the whole group (research population) being studied.
- Samples are a very small proportion to the whole group being investigated.
- Limited by time and money factors.
- Research Population
- Everyone in the group being studied.
- Sampling Frames
- 'sampling frame' = full list of all those who make up the research population.
- Examples used in sociological research - telephone directory, electoral register etc.
- But they may be out of date, may not identify ethnicity etc and may not include everyone in target pop.
- Representativeness & Generalisations
- If the sample does share the same characteristics as the whole group then generalisations can be made.
- If the sample does not reflect the social make up of the whole population then it will not be representative.
- Positivists place a lot of emphasis on the need for a representative sample - want to make broad, general statements about society.
- Interpretivists place less emphasis - usually study smaller groups to identify meanings.
- Problems in creating a rep. sample.
- May not know the social characteristics of the research pop
- May have limited info about research subjects.
- A low response rate may reduce representativeness
- Finding respondents to fit all the characteristics can be difficult
- Types of samples
- Random Sample - every member of the pop has equal chance of being selected.
- Systematic Random - making one random choice then selecting on systematic basis (every 10th etc).
- Stratified Random - common characteristic - may be stratified into males/female, ages or classes. Random samples are then chosen from the different categories into which the population has been sub-divided.
- Evaluation of Random - can be repeated and a similar group will emerge, likely to be representative so generalisations can be made.
- Non-Random
- Opportunity - who is there at the time.
- Volunteer - those who volunteer to take part.
- Pupposive - researcher seeks out those who meet the needs of the project.
- Snowball - initial sample asked to name others who fit criteria.
- Quota - pop divided into categories and the researcher has a certain number to select.
- Evaluation of Non-Random - useful when there isn't a sampling frame or a group is difficult to reach. But unlikely to be representativene.
- Random Sample - every member of the pop has equal chance of being selected.
- Samples
- Problems in creating a rep. sample.
- May not know the social characteristics of the research pop
- May have limited info about research subjects.
- A low response rate may reduce representativeness
- Finding respondents to fit all the characteristics can be difficult
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