Deck 8: Sampling

Question 1

A sampling plan does which of the following?

A) Justifies the choices researchers make as they collect data.
B) Helps researchers formulate research questions and test hypotheses.
C) Outlines where the data will come from.
D) Both a and c.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following best defines an element in research?

A) The totality of persons, events, and organizational units that the research problem is focused on.
B) Each member or entity in a population.
C) A subset of the population
D) The size of the sample.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

When making an inference, a researcher is doing which of the following?

A) Claiming that what holds true for the sample is likely true for the population from which the sample was drawn.
B) Conducting nonprobability sampling.
C) Minimizing sampling error.
D) Gaining access to a quality sampling frame.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Developing clarity about the population a researcher intends to study involves which of the following?

A) Achieving greater clarity about the focus of the research.
B) Achieving greater precision in reporting the research procedures and findings.
C) Defining the boundaries of a population so that others will be clear about exactly who is included and who is not.
D) All of the above.

Question 5

The decision to sample is based primarily on:

A) The researcher's skill in sampling effectively.
B) The statistical methods the researcher's plans to employ.
C) Feasibility of the research relative to the size of the population.
D) The cultural diversity of the sample.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes a sampling frame?

A) A list of all the elements in a population.
B) A list of all the elements in a population from which the sample is selected.
C) The totality of all population elements.
D) A rank-ordered list of all the elements in a population from which the sample is selected.

Question 7

A biased sampling frame is one that:

A) Cannot accurately represent the population.
B) Does not include sufficient numbers of persons from vulnerable or oppressed populations.
C) Produces systematic error in the research study.
D) Both a and c.

Question 8

If the sampling procedure you are using results in every element in the sampling unit having a known chance of being selected, then you are using which of the following?

A) Nonprobability sampling.
B) Random sampling.
C) Probability sampling.
D) A biased sampling frame.

Question 9

The major advantage of probability sampling is that it:

A) Permits generalization from the sample to the population from which the sample was drawn.
B) Allows purposeful inclusion or exclusion of elements in the sample.
C) Supports the use of a pre-experimental research design.
D) Permits generalization from the sample to the larger population beyond that which the sample was drawn.

Question 10

A nonprobability sample is a procedure in which:

A) Claims are supported that the sample is representative and permits generalization to the larger population from which the sample was drawn.
B) All the elements in the population have an unknown and usually different chance of being included in the sample.
C) Explanatory and descriptive research questions may be confidently answered.
D) All of the above.

Question 11

To draw a sample, the researcher selects elements from the sample one at a time at random so that each element has a known and equal chance of being selected. The researcher is using which of the following sampling procedures?

A) Nonprobability sampling.
B) Stratified random sampling.
C) Proportionate sampling.
D) Simple random sampling.

Question 12

A researcher interested in making inferences believes that the outcome of interest varies across various subgroups of the population and that subgroups may be underrepresented using simple random sampling procedures. Which of the following sampling methods would be best to use in this case?

A) Quota sampling.
B) Stratified random sampling.
C) Purposive sampling.
D) Simple random sampling.

Question 13

A researcher selects the most available elements to be included in a sample. The sampling method being used here is:

A) Proportionate sampling.
B) Convenience sampling.
C) Purposive sampling.
D) Cluster sampling.

Question 14

The decision to use non-probability sampling approach should be

A) Based on funding availability.
B) Intentional.
C) Researcher skills and knowledge.
D) The need to generalize findings.

Question 15

In which of the following sampling methods does increasing the sample size allow the researcher to claim greater representation to the population?

A) Biased sampling.
B) Nonprobability sampling.
C) Quota sampling.
D) Probability sampling.

Question 16

Sampling error is defined as:

A) How sure a researcher can be that the results of the sample represent the population.
B) The degree of difference between the sample and the population from which it was drawn.
C) The degree of variability in the population on key variables.
D) The point at which additional sampling produces no new insights or observations.

Question 17

A confidence level of 95% means that:

A) If the same study were conducted 100 times with random samples drawn from the same population, it would represent the true population value 95 times.
B) If the same study were conducted 100 times with random samples drawn from the same population, it would not represent the true population value 95 times.
C) There is a 95% margin of error in terms of the accuracy of the research findings.
D) If the same study were conducted 100 times with random samples drawn from the same population, it would represent the true population value 5 times.

Question 18

In terms of the margin of error, which of the following is true?

A) It is influenced by the size of the population.
B) It is influenced by the size of the sample.
C) It is calculated by dividing 1 by the square root of the number of elements in the sample.
D) Both b and c.

Question 19

Which of the following should be considered when determining sample size?

A) The number of variables the researcher is interested in.
B) The expected level of respondent attrition.
C) The variability of the population.
D) All of the above.

Question 20

Which of the following represents a viable method for estimating respondent attrition?

A) Interview potential respondents to assess who may consider dropping out of the study.
B) Examine the literature to determine dropout rates for similar studies.
C) Offer incentives to participants to encourage them to remain in the study.
D) All of the above.

Question 21

List the six steps necessary for addressing a sampling plan.

Question 22

Provide an example of a biased sampling frame.

Question 23

Describe the differences between probability sampling and nonprobability sampling and discuss the strengths and limitations of each method.

Question 24

Explain why Hite's (1989) research on female sexuality is considered an example of sampling bias.

Question 25

Describe the sampling procedures used in the Homeless Street Count.

Question 26

Give three examples of a population for which snowball sampling would be indicated.

Question 27

Describe the procedures for conducting a simple random sample.

Question 28

Describe the procedures for conducting a quota sample.

Question 29

What is the difference between a confidence level and a margin of error?