Question 1

Reduced sample sizes and costs are key advantages of snowball sampling.

Accepted Answer

Snowball sampling involves recruiting participants through referrals from existing participants. This can be a cost-effective way to reach a specific population, as well as reduce sample sizes by focusing on individuals who meet certain criteria. However, it may also introduce bias as the sample is not randomly selected.

Question 2

Which of the following errors is likely to cause an imbalance in the representativeness of the sample?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following errors is likely...

Question 3

In convenience sampling, researchers select samples that satisfy their specific purposes, even if they are not fully representative.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In convenience sampling, researchers select samples that...

Question 4

Small sample sizes increase the risk of systematic error.

Accepted Answer

Small sample sizes primarily increase the risk of random error, not systematic error. Systematic error (bias) is related to the method of data collection and is not directly affected by sample size.

Question 5

Priming respondents to respond in a particular manner can introduce systematic error into a research study.

Accepted Answer

Priming is a technique used in research to influence how individuals respond to a question or a task. If respondents are primed in a particular manner, it can introduce bias or systematic error into the study results. This is because priming can influence the way individuals interpret and respond to questions, leading to inaccurate or misleading results. Therefore, researchers need to be careful when using priming techniques and ensure that they do not introduce bias into their study findings.

Question 6

If Virgin Australia randomly selects a set of 10 flights on a given day, then randomly selects a groups of 10 passengers on each of these flights to participate in an in-flight survey, then the passengers are a:

Accepted Answer

The flights are the primary sampling unit as they are being randomly selected as the basis for the sample. Within each flight, the passengers are the secondary sampling unit. Therefore, the passengers are not the primary sampling unit and are not being systematically selected, making choices A and C incorrect. Tertiary sampling units are further subdivisions within secondary sampling units, so it is not applicable in this scenario. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 7

When limited financial resources are available, researchers can save money by using a non-probability sampling design.

Accepted Answer

Non-probability sampling designs such as convenience sampling or purposive sampling are relatively inexpensive compared to probability sampling designs, which require a larger budget for sampling frames and randomization procedures.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

C is true because when the elements of a population are similar, the variability within the population is low. This means that a small sample can accurately reflect the population characteristic of interest, as the chance of picking an unrepresentative sample is reduced.

Question 9

Simple random sampling requires complex computer programs to conduct the sample selection.

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling can be done manually or with simple computer programs, it does not require complex ones.

Question 10

An investigation of all the individual elements that make up a population is called:

Accepted Answer

A census is the only option that encompasses all the individual elements of a population. A sample only involves a subset of the population, strata refers to dividing the population into subgroups based on certain characteristics, and a sampling frame is a list or database of potential participants used in sampling.

Question 11

All inferential statistics assume that the true population is finite in size.

Accepted Answer

Inferential statistics do not assume that the true population is finite in size. In fact, the central limit theorem in statistics allows for inference to be made about infinite populations based on samples.

Question 12

Sample size affects both sampling and non-sampling errors.

Accepted Answer

Sample size can affect both sampling error (the error due to the fact that the sample is not a perfect representation of the population) and non-sampling error (all other types of error that can occur in a study, such as measurement error or response bias). Increasing the sample size can help reduce sampling error, but may not necessarily reduce non-sampling error.

Question 13

Sally, the manager of a small business with 30 staff members, would like to know how satisfied her employees are with their current working conditions. What would be the most appropriate approach to determine this?

Accepted Answer

Circulating a questionnaire to all staff members would give a more representative and thorough picture of the overall satisfaction levels within the organization, as opposed to a small and potentially biased sample size.

Question 14

Periodicity is a common problem with using a systematic sampling method.

Accepted Answer

Systematic sampling involves selecting samples at a fixed, periodic interval, which actually ensures a spread across the population, reducing the risk of periodicity unless the interval coincides with a periodic variation in the population.

Question 15

The major advantage of panel sample is ability to control the sample.

Accepted Answer

Panel sample allows researchers to select specific individuals and track their responses over time, giving them increased control over the sample.

Question 16

Quota sampling is appropriate when the researcher knows that a certain demographic group is more likely to refuse to cooperate with a survey.

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling allows the researcher to ensure that a certain demographic group is adequately represented in the sample, even if members of that group are more likely to refuse to participate in the survey.

Question 17

A sampling frame is:

Accepted Answer

A sampling frame is a list of elements from which a sample may be drawn. It is the source of the sample and represents the population under study.

Question 18

Population size has the largest effect on sample size.

Accepted Answer

Sample size is more influenced by factors like the desired confidence level, margin of error, and variability in the population rather than the population size itself.

Question 19

Asking the wrong questions can create sampling frame errors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Asking the wrong questions can create sampling...

Question 20

Sampling from a consumer panel typically yields a low response rate.

Accepted Answer

Sampling from a consumer panel usually yields a higher response rate because participants have already agreed to be part of the panel and are often incentivized to respond.

Quiz 10: Sampling: Sample Design and Sample Size