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All 10 Flashcards — Sampling techniques
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Question
What is a sample?
Answer
The group actually studied, chosen to represent a larger population.
Question
What is a population?
Answer
The whole group the researcher wants their findings to apply to.
Question
What is random sampling?
Answer
Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen — most representative.
Question
What is opportunity sampling?
Answer
Using whoever is available and willing — quick but often unrepresentative.
Question
What is self-selected (volunteer) sampling?
Answer
People choose to take part, e.g. by answering an advert.
Question
What is stratified sampling?
Answer
Choosing sub-groups in the same proportions as the population.
Question
What is snowball sampling?
Answer
Participants recruit others — useful for hard-to-reach groups.
Question
Why does sampling matter?
Answer
A biased sample limits generalisability — findings may only apply to that group.
Question
Representative vs practical techniques?
Answer
Random/stratified = more representative; opportunity/self-selected = more practical.
Question
Which concept does sampling link to?
Answer
Bias — an unrepresentative sample biases the findings.
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Topic 2.4 hub
Research methodology
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