sampling

• What is a sample in sociology?

  A small group chosen from the target population
• What is sampling?

  The process of creating or selecting a sample
• What is a population in sociology?

  A group of people you make assumptions about
• Who are the target population?

  The specific people the researcher aims to study
• What is a sampling frame?

  The list where the sample is selected from
• What is the basic purpose of sampling in sociology?

  • Ensure chosen participants are representative
  • Allow generalization of findings to the research population
  • Important for positivist sociologists
• Why do sociologists aim to produce generalizations?

  To explain achievement levels of all pupils
• What does a representative sample allow researchers to do?

  Generalize findings to the whole research population
• What is the electoral register used for in sampling?

  As a sampling frame for selection
• What is required for a sampling frame to be effective?

  It must be complete, accurate, and up to date
• What happens if a sample is not representative?

  Data may not accurately represent the population
• What is opportunity sampling?

  Using participants that are available at the time
• What are the pros and cons of opportunity sampling?

  Quick and easy, but not representative
• What is random sampling?

  Members have an equal chance of being selected
• What are the advantages of random sampling?

  Easy to create and less biased
• What is stratified sampling?

  Sampling from different layers of the population

  
• What are the pros and cons of stratified sampling?

  More representative but complicated to create
• What is snowball sampling?

  Participants recruit more participants for the study
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of snowball sampling?

  Useful for hard-to-access groups, but non-representative
• What is systematic sampling?

  Choosing every nth participant from a list
• What are the pros and cons of systematic sampling?

  Relatively easy to create but non-representative
• What is quota sampling?

  Sampling in proportion to specific characteristics
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of quota sampling?

  Reflects population traits but is non-random
• What are the different types of sampling methods discussed?

  • Opportunity Sampling
  • Random Sampling
  • Stratified Sampling
  • Snowball Sampling
  • Systematic Sampling
  • Quota Sampling

  
• What practical issues can affect creating a representative sample?

  • Unknown social characteristics
  • Difficulty in finding a sampling frame
  • Potential refusal to participate
• What theoretical issues can affect creating a representative sample?

  • Researchers' methodological perspectives
  • Interpretivists focus on valid data
  • Less concern for generalization