REPRESENTATIVENESS + SAMPLING

• What does representativeness in sampling refer to?

  The extent to which a sample mirrors the target population
• Why is a more representative sample important?

  It allows findings to be more generalizable
• What is a smaller group of people taken from a broader target population called?

  A sample
• Who does the target population include?

  Everyone the sociologist would generalize findings to
• What is required when creating a sample?

  A sampling frame, which is a list of the target population
• What is random sampling?

  Randomly selecting people from a list or generated by computers
• What is a positive aspect of random sampling?

  It produces a representative sample reflecting the target population
• What is opportunity sampling?

  Selecting people based on their availability
• What is a drawback of opportunity sampling?

  The resultant sample is not representative
• What is quota sampling?

  A method that does not involve random selection
• Why is quota sampling considered less reliable?

  It lacks the element of random selection
• What is stratified sampling?

  Dividing the sampling frame into social groups and sampling each
• How does stratified sampling ensure representation?

  It uses random sampling for each social group
• What is systematic sampling?

  Selecting every nth person from a sample
• How is the nth number determined in systematic sampling?

  By dividing population size by sample size
• What improves the representativeness of samples in systematic sampling?

  Randomizing the sampling frame
• What is snowball sampling?

  A non-probability technique using existing subjects
• How do existing subjects contribute in snowball sampling?

  They recruit new subjects from their acquaintances
• What is volunteer sampling?

  Participants choose to join by their own choice
• What is a limitation of snowball sampling?

  It may not be representative of the population
• Why is volunteer sampling considered not representative?

  It attracts self-selected individuals only
• What do researchers seek to improve in sampling methods?

  Response rates to enhance representativeness
• What can affect the representativeness of a sample in volunteer sampling?

  A poor response rate
• What is a practical advantage of using questionnaires?

  They collect large amounts of data quickly
• What is a potential ethical issue with questionnaires?

  Deception in the information provided
• What is required for informed consent in research?

  Participants must be fully aware of the study
• What does protection from harm ensure in research?

  Participants are not exposed to unnecessary risks
• Why is sensitivity important in research questionnaires?

  To respect participants' feelings and privacy
• What is the significance of confidentiality in research?

  It protects participants' personal information
• What does anonymizing data achieve in research?

  It prevents identification of individual participants