Research Methods- Methods of Sampling
Target Population
● Group of people that an investigation wishes to study and apply finding to
● A sample of the population is used, instead of the whole population of a specific group of people
● Sample= should represent the nature of the target population to make it generalisable to the
target population concerned
Sampling Methods
● Way in which a sample of a target population is selected depends on the sampling method used
● Type of technique used will depend upon practical and ethical issues
Method of Strengths Weaknesses
Sampling
Random All those in that target Generates a representative Everyone chosen has to
Sampling population has an sample as everyone has a agree to be take part in the
Technique equal chance of being equal chance of being research- those who
chosen- assigning chosen refuse make it a less
everyone a number representative sample
and perhaps drawing helps control participant
for a hat variables giving the study Not possible unless the
more validity target population is very
small
Stratified Used when the Is useful if that said Time consuming to find
Sampling researcher wants to subgroup may be missed said subgroups and pick
Technique represent all the by random sampling certain people for each
different types of
people Ensures that the sample is People can still refuse to
completely representative take part in the study, as is
Technique= identifies as a cross section of the their right to do so- can
the important target population lead to sample error (when
subgroups (strata) a sample differs in
within a target qualities from the target
population based on population it intends to
characteristics represent) which can lead
that they share to invalid conclusions from
and takes a random being drawn
sample from each
Target Population
● Group of people that an investigation wishes to study and apply finding to
● A sample of the population is used, instead of the whole population of a specific group of people
● Sample= should represent the nature of the target population to make it generalisable to the
target population concerned
Sampling Methods
● Way in which a sample of a target population is selected depends on the sampling method used
● Type of technique used will depend upon practical and ethical issues
Method of Strengths Weaknesses
Sampling
Random All those in that target Generates a representative Everyone chosen has to
Sampling population has an sample as everyone has a agree to be take part in the
Technique equal chance of being equal chance of being research- those who
chosen- assigning chosen refuse make it a less
everyone a number representative sample
and perhaps drawing helps control participant
for a hat variables giving the study Not possible unless the
more validity target population is very
small
Stratified Used when the Is useful if that said Time consuming to find
Sampling researcher wants to subgroup may be missed said subgroups and pick
Technique represent all the by random sampling certain people for each
different types of
people Ensures that the sample is People can still refuse to
completely representative take part in the study, as is
Technique= identifies as a cross section of the their right to do so- can
the important target population lead to sample error (when
subgroups (strata) a sample differs in
within a target qualities from the target
population based on population it intends to
characteristics represent) which can lead
that they share to invalid conclusions from
and takes a random being drawn
sample from each
