Sampling

A researcher is conducting a study on the eating habits of college students. They randomly select 100 students from the student directory and survey them about their dietary preferences.

What type of sampling method is being used?

• Simple Random Sampling

• Convenience Sampling

• Purposive Sampling

• Snowball Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: a) Simple Random Sampling

Explanation: In this scenario, the researcher randomly selects students from the entire student directory. This ensures that every student has an equal chance of being chosen, making it a simple random sampling method.

A health clinic wants to assess the satisfaction levels of their patients. They divide their patient population into groups based on age (18-30, 31-50, 51 and above) and then randomly select participants from each age group for the survey.

What type of sampling method is being used?

• Systematic Sampling

• Stratified Sampling

• Quota Sampling

• Cluster Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: b) Stratified Sampling

Explanation: The population is divided into subgroups based on age. Random selection is then performed within each subgroup. This is stratified sampling, which aims to ensure representation from different age categories.

A researcher is studying a rare disease that affects only a small percentage of the population. They locate a few individuals with the disease and use their connections to find additional participants with the same condition.

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Convenience Sampling

• b) Snowball Sampling

• c) Purposive Sampling

• d) Cluster Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: b) Snowball Sampling

Explanation: The researcher starts with a small set of participants (the initial individuals with the disease) and then asks them to refer other participants with the same condition. This is a classic example of snowball sampling.

An education researcher is interested in understanding the experiences of teachers in urban and rural schools. They purposefully select three urban schools and three rural schools and interview all the teachers in those schools.

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Simple Random Sampling

• b) Convenience Sampling

• c) Purposive Sampling

• d) Stratified Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: c) Purposive Sampling

Explanation: The researcher intentionally selects specific schools that represent urban and rural settings. This is an example of purposive sampling, where participants are chosen based on specific criteria.

A political pollster wants to survey voters' opinions on an upcoming election. They stand outside a shopping mall and ask the first 200 people they encounter to participate in the survey. What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Simple Random Sampling

• b) Convenience Sampling

• c) Systematic Sampling

• d) Quota Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: b) Convenience Sampling

Explanation: The pollster chooses the easiest and most convenient method by surveying people at the shopping mall. Convenience sampling involves selecting individuals who are readily available and accessible.

A marketing firm is conducting research on a new product targeted at teenagers. They choose to survey students from three different high schools by randomly selecting classes and including all students present in those classes. What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Snowball Sampling

• b) Quota Sampling

• c) Cluster Sampling

• d) Systematic Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: c) Cluster Sampling

Explanation: The high schools are treated as clusters, and specific classes are selected randomly from within those clusters. All students present in the selected classes are included in the survey. This is cluster sampling.

A researcher is studying the opinions of employees in a large company. They create groups based on job positions (managers, supervisors, employees) and then randomly select participants from each group.

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Quota Sampling

• b) Purposive Sampling

• c) Snowball Sampling

• d) Stratified Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: d) Stratified Sampling

Explanation: The researcher divides the population into distinct subgroups (job positions) and randomly selects participants from each subgroup. This approach aims to ensure representation from different job categories.

A radio station wants to gather feedback from listeners about their programming. They call listeners who have previously participated in station events to ask for their opinions.

 

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Convenience Sampling

• b) Snowball Sampling

• c) Purposive Sampling

• d) Cluster Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: b) Snowball Sampling

Explanation: The radio station starts with a small group of listeners (those who have participated in station events) and asks them to refer other listeners. This is another example of snowball sampling.

A market researcher wants to understand consumer preferences for a new beverage. They randomly select every 10th customer entering a grocery store and ask them to participate in a taste test.

 

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Convenience Sampling

• b) Stratified Sampling

• c) Systematic Sampling

• d) Quota Sampling

Answer explanation

Answer: c) Systematic Sampling

Explanation: The researcher uses a systematic approach by selecting every 10th customer entering the store. This is systematic sampling, where every nth element in the population is selected.

A researcher is studying the effects of a specific medication on patients with a rare medical condition. They obtain a list of all patients with the condition from a national registry and randomly select participants from this list.

 

What type of sampling method is being used?

• a) Convenience Sampling

• b) Snowball Sampling

• c) Stratified Sampling

• d) Simple Random Sampling