1. Sampling

2. Sampling
Sociological studies should be generalizable to the society they are studying.
We can’t study everyone within the population, so to make a study we need to have a sample.
A sample is a small group drawn from the wider target population (all the people relevant to our study).

3. Obviously it is not usually possible to test everyone in the target population so therefore sociologists use sampling techniques to choose people who are representative (typical) of the population as a whole. =
If your sample is representative then you can generalise the results of your study to the wider population.

4. Sampling Method Description Advantages Disadvantages
Random   
Systematic
Stratified/ Quota
Opportunity
Snowball
Photocopy the page from the CGP book

5. Sampling Techniques
Random
Systematic
Stratified
Opportunity
Snowball

6. Random Sampling
This is a sampling technique which is defined as a sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen. This involves identifying everyone in the target population and then selecting the number of participants you need in a way that gives everyone in the population an equal chance of being picked.

7. Systematic Sampling Sampling frame (e.g. my register) 1 2 3 1 2 1 3
Number the participants in your sampling frame (e.g. 1,2,3) and then pick participants at a set interval (gap), e.g. every ‘number 1’ participant

8. Stratified Sampling = 60% female 40% male = 60% female 40% male
Stratified sampling involves classifying the population into categories and then choosing a sample which consists of participants from each category in the same proportions as they are in the population.

9. Opportunity Sampling Common Room
Erm…no
Common Room
Want to be in my study?
Opportunity sampling is a sampling technique often used by sociologists & market researchers. It consists of taking the sample from people who are available at the time the study is carried out and fit the criteria you are looking for – they’re ‘already there’

10. Sure I know these other people…!
Snowball Sampling
Drug clinic
Sure I know these other people…!
Want to be in my study?
Snowball sampling is the sampling technique often used when you want to find a group of people who have something in common, but might not want to be found/the information isn’t in a clear place. It consists of finding one member of the group, and asking them if they know anyone else who could take part, and then asking those people for more, and so on.

11. Sampling Method Description Advantages Disadvantages
Random   
Systematic
Stratified/ Quota
Opportunity
Snowball
Photocopy the page from the CGP book

13. WHY ACCURATE SAMPLING IS CRUCIAL!
About 10,000,000 questionnaires (the largest number ever) were distributed by Literary Digest, a respected magazine.
For ease, the individuals surveyed were selected from car owners, telephone subscribers, and country club memberships.
On the basis of 2,300,000 responses, Literary Digest predicted that Republican Alf Landon would defeat Democratic candidate Franklin Roosevelt.
Yet, Roosevelt won, and by a large margin.
They got it so wrong because the voters used in the sample were not representative of the general voting population.
In 1936, telephones and cars were unaffordable to the average voter, who didn't read Literary Digest either.

14. You want to do a study on truanting students,
are you most likely y to use…
Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Opportunity sampling
Snowball sampling