Sampling

• What is self-selected/volunteer sampling?

  It is when individuals choose to participate in the study.
• Why are participants less likely to withdraw from a self-selected study?

  Because they have signed up voluntarily.
• What is a potential advantage of self-selected sampling regarding participant roles?

  There is less chance of the ‘negative participant’ role.
• What is a disadvantage of self-selected sampling related to sample bias?

  The sample will be biased as volunteers tend to have certain characteristics.
• What are 'expectancy effects' in the context of self-selected sampling?

  They are a type of demand characteristic where participants are keen to please.
• What is opportunity/convenience sampling?

  It is the process of selecting people who are available and willing to participate.
• What is an advantage of opportunity/convenience sampling?

  It is easy to create the sample as people are readily available.
• What is a disadvantage of opportunity/convenience sampling related to sample representation?

  The sample is likely to be biased as it only includes people available at that time or place.
• What is random sampling?

  It is the process where every member in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
• How can random sampling be conducted?

  By placing names from the target population in a container and randomly selecting them.
• What is a strength of random sampling?

  It increases the chance of getting an unbiased and representative sample.
• What is a weakness of random sampling related to practicality?

  It is difficult to achieve as it can be hard to get full details of a target population.
• Does random sampling guarantee a representative sample?

  No, it does not guarantee a representative sample.
• What is snowball sampling?

  It is when participants help the researcher recruit more participants through their social network.
• How does purposive sampling work?

  Participants are recruited who have characteristics that are salient to the researcher.
• What is an example of purposive sampling?

  Expert sampling, where people with a particular skill are selected.
• What is a strength of purposive sampling?

  It does not waste time on selecting participants whose data will not be useful.
• What is a weakness of purposive sampling related to sample size?

  Some forms can create quite small sample sizes.
• What is a strength of snowball sampling?

  It locates hidden participants that the researcher might not find otherwise.
• What is a potential risk of snowball sampling?

  The sample may become anchored on the type of people originally selected.