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Sampling Methods in Research Examples

1. The document describes 10 examples of sampling methods being used in research studies. It asks the reader to identify the specific sampling method in each example. It also provides 3 additional situations and asks how the reader would select samples using certain specified methods or to describe the method if none is specified.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
32 views2 pages

Sampling Methods in Research Examples

1. The document describes 10 examples of sampling methods being used in research studies. It asks the reader to identify the specific sampling method in each example. It also provides 3 additional situations and asks how the reader would select samples using certain specified methods or to describe the method if none is specified.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1

In each of the following examples, identify the sampling method being used.

1. A sample of 2,000 was sought to estimate the average achievement in science of fifth graders
in a city’s public schools. The average fifth grade enrollment in the city’s elementary schools
is 100 students. Thus, 20 schools were randomly selected and within each of those schools all
fifth graders were tested.

2. A researcher is interested in maximum-security inmates. She groups inmates by the type of


crime committed, determines the percentage of the total in each crime category, and uses that
percentage to determine the number of inmates randomly selected from each group.

3. A researcher has a population of 100 third grade children from a local school district from
which a sample of 25 children is to be selected. Each child’s name is put on a list, and each
child is assigned a number from 1 to 100. Then the numbers 1 to 100 are written on separate
pieces of paper and shuffled. Finally, the researcher picks 25 slips of paper and the numbers
on the paper determine the 25 participants.

4. A sociologist conducts an opinion survey in a major city. Part of the research plan calls for
describing and comparing the opinions of four different ethnic groups: African Americans,
Asian Americans, European Americans, and Native Americans. For a total sample of 300,
the researcher selects 75 participants from each of the four predetermined subgroups.

5. A researcher is interested in political attitudes of individuals within a particular state. The


researcher uses the following procedure to obtain a sample: (a) a random sample of counties
is drawn, (b) within the counties selected, districts are randomly drawn, (c) within each
district, blocks are randomly sampled, (d) within blocks selected, building are randomly
drawn, and (d) all residents within the buildings selected comprise the sample.

6. Instructors teaching research methods are interested in knowing what study techniques their
students are utilizing. Rather than assessing all students, the researchers randomly select 10
students from each of the sections to comprise their sample.

7. A researcher is interested in maximum-security inmates. She groups maximum-security


prisons by state, randomly selects 10 states, and, from those 10, selects three prisons. She
includes all the inmates in those three prisons in her sample.

Describe how you would select people to take your survey in the following situations with the
listed method (when provided):
2

8. Say you wanted to survey professors at SIAA about their publication records. You want to
be sure to include professors from each department, even the very small ones.

9. You want to select a sample of SIAA students using simple random sampling, how would
you do this?

10. Say you wanted to know the academic performance of freshmen students of SIAA during the
first semester of academic year 2021-2022, how would you do this?

Common questions

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The main advantage of quota sampling, as seen in Example 4, is that it ensures equal representation of specific subgroups (ethnic groups in this case) within the sample, allowing for effective comparison across these groups. This method aligns with the research objectives by directly supporting the analysis of differences and similarities in opinions among distinct ethnic groups .

The multi-stage sampling technique in Example 5 benefits the study by allowing the researcher to systematically refine and narrow down the sample from broader units (counties) to more specific ones (residents in buildings). This approach is cost-effective for large populations and ensures representation across diverse geographical areas, unlike simpler sampling methods that might not capture the population's heterogeneity .

Example 7 implements cluster sampling by firstly grouping prisons by state, randomly selecting 10 states, and then selecting three prisons from each state to include all inmates in those prisons as the sample. This method is suitable for researching maximum-security inmates because it simplifies logistics and reduces costs while ensuring that the sample is broad enough to observe patterns across multiple locations .

In Example 2, stratified sampling is applied by dividing inmates into groups based on the type of crime committed, determining the percentage each group represents of the total population, and randomly selecting inmates from each group according to these percentages. This method ensures that the sample reflects the diversity of crime types present in the population, leading to more precise and reliable results compared to simple random sampling, which might miss small yet significant subgroups .

To assess freshmen's academic performance, a combination of cluster sampling and stratified sampling could be employed. First, randomly select classes or sections representing freshman courses (cluster sampling), then within each class, select students ensuring representation across various academic backgrounds (stratified sampling). This dual-method approach provides a comprehensive sample while ensuring diverse academic profiles are assessed, making it effective for understanding performance dynamics .

To ensure all departments, including small ones, are represented, disproportionate stratified sampling could be employed. Professors would be grouped by department, and an equal number of professors would be selected from each group for the survey. This approach ensures inclusivity of smaller departments and aids in comprehensive analysis of publication records across all departments .

Stratified random sampling, as used in Example 6, is effective because it selects a randomized subset of students from each section, thereby ensuring that the sample captures different study techniques that might be prevalent in different sections. This method enables more comprehensive insights into the variability of study practices among the entire student population compared to random sampling alone .

Example 3 demonstrates simple random sampling by assigning a number to each child, randomizing these numbers on slips of paper, and drawing a subset to participate in the study. The purpose is to give every individual in the population an equal chance of being selected, which helps ensure the sample is unbiased and representative of the population .

To conduct simple random sampling of SIAA students, gather a list of all students and assign each an identification number. Randomly select a subset of these numbers using techniques such as a random number generator or drawing names from a hat. This process ensures each student has an equal likelihood of being part of the sample, maintaining sample randomness and representativeness .

Example 1 uses a cluster sampling method. This is chosen because it efficiently deals with large populations spread across multiple locations by randomly selecting entire clusters (schools in this case) and testing all individuals (students) within those clusters. This approach helps reduce logistical complexity and costs .

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