Sampling methods

• What is a sample?

  Participants chosen from the population
• Why should a sample be representative?

  So we can generalise to the target population
• What is a potential issue with sampling regarding the target population?

  It's difficult to perfectly reflect the population
• What does random sampling involve?

  Equal chance of being selected
• What is a strength of random sampling regarding bias?

  No bias
• What is a weakness of random sampling regarding time and effort?

  It takes more time and effort
• What does opportunity sampling involve?

  Selecting readily available people
• What is a strength of opportunity sampling regarding practicality?

  Easy, quick and cheap to carry out
• What is a weakness of opportunity sampling regarding representativeness?

  Sample likely to be unrepresentative
• What does systematic sampling involve?

  Selecting every nth person
• What is a strength of systematic sampling regarding researcher influence?

  Avoids researcher bias
• What is a weakness of systematic sampling regarding bias?

  May still be biased
• What does stratified sampling involve?

  Proportionate frequency in the population
• What is a strength of stratified sampling regarding representativeness?

  Most representative of all methods
• What is a weakness of stratified sampling regarding practicality?

  Very time-consuming