Psy 231 Stats/Methods I
Sampling
G&F Chapter 5

I. Population vs. Sample

population (target population) - all cases/individuals in which you are interested

sample - subset drawn from the population

element - each member of population

representativeness – extent to which the sample exhibits the same characteristics as the population

representative sample vs. biased sample

selection bias–when participants are selected in a way that increases the probability of obtaining a biased sample

The Relationship Between a Population and a Sample

 

The Relationship Among the Target Population, the Accessible Population, and the Sample

II. Two Main Categories of Sampling Techniques (or methods)

A. Probability Sampling

The odds of selecting a particular element in a population are known and can be calculated.

Exact population size is known and all the elements or members are listed.

Each element of the population must have a specified probability of being selected.

Sampling frame - list all members of the population of interest 

Researcher must use an unbiased selection process (random)

B.  Non-probability sampling

The total size of the population is NOT known and each element can not be listed

Researcher uses a biased method of selection

What is the risk of using non-probability sampling?  

 

II. Specific Sampling Procedures

    A. Probability Sampling Methods

1. simple random sampling- every element has an equal and independent chance of being included

sampling with and without replacement--which is used more often?

2. systematic sampling-selecting every nth participant after using simple random sampling to select the first participant

3. stratified random - identify specific subgroups (naturally occurring) and then select equal random samples from each of the subgroups.

 

4. proportionate stratified random sampling

 

5.  Cluster Sampling--the individuals of a population already fall into groups, so the researcher randomly selects groups to participate instead of randomly selecting individuals 

A Systematic Sampling Technique

 

Layers or Strata Defined by Annual Income

 

   

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the advantages of probability sampling?

What are the disadvantages of probability sampling?

 

B. Non- Probability Sampling Methods

1. Convenience Sampling

caution: Typical research volunteers are different than non volunteers. 
In what ways? 

If convenience sampling is likely to lead to a biased sample, why do so many researchers use this method?

How do researchers compensate for the weaknesses of convenience sampling?

 

2. Quota Sampling

An attempt to make a convenience sample more representative.

 

Questions for Review:

  • Explain the difference between target and accessible populations.

  • What is the problem with a biased sample?

  • Explain the difference between probability and nonprobability sampling.

  • Explain how the generality of a study's results is affected by the sampling method used.

  • Name the sampling method used for these scenarios:


a. The State College is conducting a survey of student attitudes and opinions. The plan is to use the list of all registered students and randomly select 50 freshmen, 50 sophomores, 50 juniors, and 50 seniors to make up the sample.

b.  A second option for the college survey (see above) is based on the observation that the college accepts a large number of transfer students each year. As a result, the junior and senior classes were twice as large as the freshman and sophomore classes. To ensure that the sample reflects this difference in class size, the alternative plan is to determine the number of students in each class, then select a sample such that the number for each class in the sample is in direct relation to the number in each class for the entire college.

c.  The County Democratic Committee would like to determine which issues are most important to registered Democrats in the county. Using the list of registered Democrats, the committee selects a random sample of 30 for telephone interviews.

d.  A faculty member in the Psychology Department posts notices in classrooms and buildings on campus, asking for volunteers to participate in a human memory experiment. Interested students are asked to leave their names and telephone numbers.

e.  An educational psychologist selects a sample of 40 third-grade children from the local public school, ensuring that the sample is divided evenly with 20 boys and 20 girls.