sampling

• What is a population in research psychology?

  Group of people of interest
• What is a sample in research psychology?

  Group of people taking part in research
• What are sampling techniques?

  Methods used to select people from population
• What does bias mean in sampling?

  Over or under representation of groups
• What is generalization in research findings?

  Extent findings can apply to the population
• What is a random sample?

  All members have an equal chance of selection
• What is the first step in obtaining a random sample?

  Obtain a list of all members of population
• How is a random sample selected?

  Through the use of the lottery method
• What is a strength of random sampling?

  Potentially unbiased, enhancing internal validity
• What is a limitation of random sampling?

  May be unrepresentative; participants may refuse
• What is a systematic sample?

  Every nth member of the population is selected
• What is a sampling frame?

  A list of people in the target population
• What is a strength of systematic sampling?

  Objective; no researcher influence in selection
• What is a limitation of systematic sampling?

  Time-consuming; participants may refuse to participate
• What is a stratified sample?

  Sample reflects proportions of subgroups in population
• What is a strength of stratified sampling?

  Produces representative sample; generalization possible
• What is a limitation of stratified sampling?

  Cannot reflect all differences; complete representation isn’t possible
• What is an opportunity sample?

  Participants selected who are willing and available
• What is a strength of opportunity sampling?

  Convenient; less costly in time and money
• What is a limitation of opportunity sampling?

  Sample is unrepresentative; findings cannot be generalized
• What is a volunteer sample?

  Participants select themselves to be part of the sample
• How do researchers typically recruit for a volunteer sample?

  By placing an advert in a newspaper
• What is a strength of volunteer sampling?

  Easy; minimal input from researcher
• What is a limitation of volunteer sampling?

  Volunteer bias may affect generalization