Sampling Methods

Advantages/Disadvantages

Random (Frame)

• Every person has an equal chance of being selected
• No researcher bias
• Fast - requires less preparation
• Highly unrepresentative of population

Stratified Random (Frame)

• Sample reflects population in terms of social characteristics eg. age, gender, ethnicity, class - researcher divides the sample according to necessary criteria and randomly selects from these groups
• No researcher bias
• Highly representative of population
• Complex/time consuming - requires a knowledge of maths to calculate sizes of groups

Multi-stage (Frame)

• Sample from within another sample eg. taking a sub-sample of people on an electoral register
• No researcher bias
• Representaative of population
• Complex - requires another sample

Quota

• Certain quota are selected eg. 20 males and 20 females. First 20…