Sampling Techniques
Learning Objectives
- Define sampling;
- Describe the difference between homogenous and heterogeneous samples;
- Differentiate between the population and the sample;
- Differentiate between probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling;
- Explain what is meant by representativeness and generalizability;
- Describe what is meant by sampling error and differentiate between a random sampling error, a system sampling error;
- Identify and differentiate between probability and non-probability sampling techniques;
- Explain the importance of knowing the who, the how, and the purpose of sampling.
All research projects involve gathering specific data from specific sources in specific places at specific times (Palys & Atchison, 2014). Also known as sampling, the necessity of sampling occurs because we simply cannot gather all data, from all sources, from all places and at all times. In other words, we must make choices when we design our research projects. This chapter focuses on sampling techniques as another level of choices to be made by the researcher.
