Deck 6: Sampling: Theory and Methods

Question 1

In a systematic sampling study, if the sampling frame has 1,500 names and the desired sample size is 50, the "skip interval" should be:

A)25
B)0.03
C)50
D)30
E)15

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In order to use this sampling method, a researcher has to first order all members of the defined target population in some way (say, as in a phone book). Which method is this researcher most likely using?

A)Convenience sampling
B)Simple random sampling
C)Judgment sampling
D)Systematic random sampling
E)Stratified random sampling

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which one of the following is a nonprobability sample method?

A)Simple random sampling
B)Cluster sampling
C)Snowball sampling
D)Area sampling
E)Stratified random sampling

Answer 3

C

Question 4

If the estimated population standard deviation based on previous studies is $20, and the acceptable error is plus or minus $5, and the z-value for a 95 percent level of confidence is 1.96, the needed sample size is approximately:

A)48
B)210
C)62
D)153
E)196

Question 5

Probability sampling is undertaken to achieve all of the following, EXCEPT:

A)to ensure unbiased selection of sampling units.
B)to ensure proper sampling representation of the defined target population.
C)to ensure that every member of the defined target population has a known and equal probability of being included in the sample.
D)to allow the researcher to judge the reliability and validity of data collected.
E)to allow the researcher to generalize results to the target population within a specified margin of error.

Question 6

In a defined target population, there are 1,950 small firms, 45 medium sized firms, and 5 large firms. A researcher is interested in drawing a probability sample from this population. However, given the greater economic significance of the five large firms, he wants to draw more heavily from that group. Given this objective, the researcher should use:

A)simple random sampling.
B)systematic random sampling.
C)disproportionately stratified sampling.
D)cluster sampling.
E)proportionately stratified sampling.

Question 7

When a market researcher asks if a project will be international, national, or regional in nature, the researcher is trying to determine:

A)time frame requirements.
B)degree of accuracy.
C)scope of the research.
D)availability of resources.
E)research objectives.

Question 8

Toyota Corporation is interested in determining the satisfaction of Lexus users. Instead of sampling the entire population of car owners, Toyota samples those who owned a Lexus. Toyota is drawing its sample from a:

A)sampling unit.
B)defined target population.
C)designated sampling population.
D)subset relevant population.
E)full-set relevant population.

Question 9

A researcher wants to find out the average age of population in two cities, A and

A) there is lesser variation in age for population in City A.
B) city B's population is significantly higher than that of City A.
C) the level of confidence desired for City B's results is higher.
D) the degree of precision desired for City A is higher.
E) the degree of precision desired for City B is higher.

Question 10

Sampling units are:

A)the target population elements available for selection during the sampling process.
B)the identifiable groups of elements of interest to the researcher and pertinent to the information problem.
C)the complete set of elements identified for investigation.
D)the list of all population elements from which to draw a sample.
E)the number of units accidentally left out of the sampling frame.

Question 11

A college professor wants to find if students in the U.S. colleges will find the new textbook that he has written to be useful and interesting. He decides to sample all marketing majors at the school he teaches. He believes that this group of students will be representative of the U.S. college student population. His method of sampling is most probably:

A)census sampling.
B)convenience sampling.
C)judgment sampling.
D)quota sampling.
E)cluster sampling.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about cluster sampling is true?

A)Each cluster is assumed to be representative of the homogeneity of the target population.
B)The prospective sampling units are selected for the sample using systematic random sampling.
C)Area sampling is a form of cluster sampling.
D)In practice, cluster sampling is difficult to implement.
E)Cluster sampling requires a substantially large budget.

Question 13

Which method of sampling relies on the assumption that rare groups of people tend to form their own unique social circles?

A)Judgment sampling
B)Quota sampling
C)Cluster sampling
D)Snowball sampling
E)Convenience sampling

Question 14

An instructor teaching an introductory course in marketing has 300 students enrolled in her class. Some students in the class request the instructor to cancel her class on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She agrees to do so if 70 percent of the students agreed with the proposal to cancel the class. Instead of asking every student to participate in the poll, she asks students to write their names on index cards and put them in a collection basket. She then asks a student to pull out 30 cards from the basket without looking at the basket or the cards. The instructor is practicing what kind of sampling technique?

A)Systematic random sample
B)Simple random sample
C)Stratified random sample
D)Convenience sample
E)Judgment sample

Question 15

Jamie Nelson is interested in determining the satisfaction of people with the service provided by their telephone company (for landline customers only). She decides to draw her sample from the telephone directory. For Jamie's research, the telephone directory is serving as a(n):

A)sampling unit.
B)element chart.
C)sampling frame.
D)element.
E)census.

Question 16

Which one of the following statements about convenience sampling is false?

A)It allows a large number of respondents to be interviewed in a short time.
B)It is commonly used in construct development.
C)It is commonly used to generalize results to the target population.
D)It is used in scale development.
E)It is used to pretest questionnaires.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about sampling error is false?

A)As we add more subjects to a sample to increase sample size, sampling error also goes up.
B)Sampling error could happen because of a mistake in drawing a sample.
C)Sampling error can occur because of miscalculation of the sample size.
D)Sampling error can be determined only after a sample has been drawn.
E)Sampling error tends to occur because of chance variations in the selection of sampling units.

Question 18

Before polling students in the School of Business, the researcher divides all the current students into groups based on their class standing (freshman, sophomores, etc). Then, she randomly draws a sample of 50 students from each of these groups to create a representative sample of the entire student body in the School. The researcher is practicing which of the following sampling methods?

A)Simple random sampling
B)Systematic random sampling
C)Stratified random sampling
D)Cluster sampling
E)Snowball sampling

Question 19

All of the following are examples of sampling as witnessed in everyday life, EXCEPT:

A)an interviewer making a judgment about a job candidate based on a good first impression.
B)a person flipping through television channels to find a program worth watching.
C)a person buying a house to live in with his family.
D)a person flipping through pages of magazines at a book store to determine which magazine to buy.
E)a person test driving a car before buying.

Question 20

A researcher does not have the resources or time to do a probability sample. She wants to do a convenience sample, but she also wants to make sure that all ethnicities are fairly represented in her sample. What kind of sampling would you recommend to her?

A)Judgment sampling
B)Quota sampling
C)Stratified sampling
D)Cluster sampling
E)Convenience sampling

Question 21

Interviewing individuals at a neighborhood café can generate a judgment sample.

Question 22

Cluster sampling is an example of a nonprobability sampling method.

Question 23

For a given level of precision and confidence level, a researcher determines that he needs a sample size of 400. The study was to find out that the proportion of people who smoke is 30 percent. For the same level of precision and confidence, she would have needed the same sample size if the proportion of those who smoked were to change to:

A)40 percent.
B)50 percent.
C)60 percent.
D)70 percent.
E)As long as the precision and confidence stay the same, the proportion doesn't affect the required sample size.

Question 24

A defined target population consists of the complete group of elements that are identified for investigation based on the objectives of the research project.

Question 25

The first step in drawing a systematic random sample is to obtain a list of potential sampling units that contain an acceptable frame of the target population elements.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is true about sample size formula for nonprobability samples?

A)The sample size formula must be adjusted for confidence level before it can be used for nonprobability samples.
B)The sample size formula must be adjusted for error tolerance before it can be used for nonprobability samples.
C)The sample size formula must be adjusted for population variance before it can be used for nonprobability samples.
D)The sample size formula must be adjusted for confidence level and error tolerance before it can be used for nonprobability samples.
E)Sample size formulas cannot be used for nonprobability samples.

Question 27

A census is less time-consuming and less costly than a sample.

Question 28

Any geographical unit with identifiable boundaries can be used in area sampling.

Question 29

The skip interval in systematic random sampling is computed by dividing the number of potential sampling units on the list by the desired sample size.

Question 30

Simple random sampling usually produces biased estimates of a population's characteristics.

Question 31

Another term for judgment sampling is purposive sampling.

Question 32

Disproportionate stratified sampling is used when the target population produces sample sizes for subgroups that differ from their relative importance to the study.

Question 33

The U.S. census is conducted every five years.

Question 34

Systematic random sampling works better than simple random sampling especially in those situations where there might be a hidden pattern in population.

Question 35

In order to determine the proportion of people who favor imposing sales tax for all Internet purchases, the minimum sample size needed for a precision level of 5 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent, is:

A)666.
B)272.
C)384.
D)196.
E)100.

Question 36

Referral sampling involves identifying a set of respondents who can help the researcher identify additional people to include in the study.

Question 37

In which stage of the sampling plan will random-digit dialing probably be considered?

A)Identification of sampling plan.
B)Defining the target population.
C)Selecting the appropriate sampling method.
D)Creating an operating plan for selecting sampling units.
E)Identifying the sampling frame.

Question 38

Sampling errors are related to the accuracy of data whereas nonsampling errors relate to the representativeness of the sample to the defined target population.

Question 39

If the estimated population proportion is .30 based on previous studies, and the acceptable error is plus or minus 5 percent, and the z-value for a 95 percent level of confidence is 1.96, the needed sample size is approximately:

A)323
B)187
C)36
D)212
E)554

Question 40

A voters list is an example of a sampling frame.

Question 41

Both stratified random sampling and cluster sampling involve dividing the target population into groups. Under what conditions would you prefer using one over the other?

Question 42

Discuss the advantages of snowball sampling.

Question 43

Precision is the degree to which sample research results accurately reflect the actual population.

Question 44

Determining the sample size for nonprobability samples involves intuitive judgment.

Question 45

When creating an operating plan the researcher must decide how to contact prospective respondents in the sample.

Question 46

Nonprobability samples are easier, cheaper, and faster to get. What is their main disadvantage that would force a researcher to do probability sampling?

Question 47

List the steps to be followed in developing a sampling plan.

Question 48

A sample agenda is the blueprint to ensure the data collected are representative of the population.

Question 49

Discuss the advantages of quota sampling.

Question 50

Sample sizes can be based on rules of thumb.