SAMPLING

• What is sampling?

  the process of selecting people to study

  must be as representative as possible
• What is a sampling frame?

  the list from which a sample is chosen. Ideally a complete list of the relevant population
• What is random sampling?

  everyone in the sampling frame has an equal choice at being selected.

  usually gathered by pulling names out of a hat or using a computer to select

  "random number generator"
• What is systematic sampling?

  every nth person in the sampling frame is selected

  needs to be a large sample size to be representative
• What is stratified sampling?

  The researcher breaks down the population by age/class etc. Then use random sampling to select a sample with the same proportions as the target population
• What is quota sampling?

  the population is broken down.

  The researcher looks for participants in each group and stops when they have the required number\
• What are the practical reasons that stop a representative sample?

  time

  accessibility

  money

  refusal to participate
• what are the ethical reasons that stop a representative sample?

  anonymity

  harm

  legality

  your conscious
• What is snowball sampling?

  the sociologist starts with a few key people who are then asked to recommend other people to take part who also recommend other people.
• What is an opportunity sample?

  the sociologist studies the people it is easiest for them to access.

  such as passers-by in the street or pupils in a local school
• What are the advantages of random sampling?

  Easy and not time consuming
• What are the disadvantages of random sampling?

  validity is compromised:

  may be disconnected or lie