Question 1

Which of the following is not an example of a multistage cluster sample?
A) the British Crime Survey
B) the National Crime Victimization Survey
C) Uniform Crime Reports
D) polling data during an election year

Accepted Answer

The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) is not an example of a multistage cluster sample. The UCR is a collection of data voluntarily provided by law enforcement agencies and is not obtained through a random sampling process. The British Crime Survey, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and polling data during an election year all use a multistage cluster sample methodology to obtain their data.

Question 2

In order to study active criminals who have not been arrested for their criminal acts, the researcher would be wise to employ which type of sampling technique?
A) purposive sampling
B) snowball sampling
C) convenience sampling
D) stratified random sampling

Accepted Answer

Snowball sampling is effective for studying populations that are hard to reach or identify, such as active criminals. It relies on initial subjects to nominate further subjects among their acquaintances, thus "snowballing" into a larger sample.

Question 3

Multistage cluster sampling with stratification, systematic sampling, simple random sampling and disproportionate stratified sampling are examples of:
A) nonprobability sampling
B) probability sampling
C) sampling distributions
D) sampling frames

Accepted Answer

Multistage cluster sampling with stratification, systematic sampling, simple random sampling and disproportionate stratified sampling are all examples of probability sampling methods, which means that each member of the population has a known and non-zero chance of being selected for the sample. Therefore, the best choice is B - probability sampling.

Question 4

Which sampling method is commonly used to pretest a questionnaire?
A) stratification
B) quota
C) snowball
D) purposive

Accepted Answer

Purposive sampling is commonly used to pretest a questionnaire because the sample is selected based on specific criteria that match the characteristics of the intended population for the survey. This helps ensure that the questionnaire is appropriate for the population it is intended for and can identify any issues or confusion with the questions before administering the survey to the full population.

Question 5

Your criminal justice class requires a study of the success of your state's drug courts. The professor suggests that you first select 10 counties from your state. From those ten counties you will select the two largest cities from each. Finally the drug courts in each of the cities will be monitored to measure success. What type of sampling design did your professor suggest?
A) stratified sampling
B) multistage cluster sampling
C) multistage cluster sampling with stratification
D) judgmental sampling

Accepted Answer

The professor's suggestion involves a multistage process where the first stage is selecting counties (clusters) and the second stage involves selecting cities within those counties, making it a multistage cluster sampling design.

Question 6

On the first day of the semester your introductory criminology instructor handed out a very long questionnaire asking things that you did not think was appropriate about your drinking habits. Back in the dorm you complained to your roommates and discovered that they were given the same questionnaire by their instructors. What sampling method was used?
A) snowball sample
B) multistage cluster sample
C) simple random sample
D) reliance on available subjects

Accepted Answer

The use of available subjects means that the instructors relied on the students who were enrolled in their class, which is not a random or systematic process. Therefore, this can be classified as a reliance on available subjects sample.

Question 7

The true list of elements in the population is called the:
A) parameter
B) sampling frame
C) population
D) sample

Accepted Answer

The sampling frame is the actual list of individuals or elements from which the sample is drawn, essentially representing the true list of elements in the population that researchers aim to study.

Question 8

When researching a population where it is impossible or impractical to compile a list of the elements, what is the proper sampling technique to use?
A) stratified sample
B) systematic sample
C) cluster sample
D) simple random sample

Accepted Answer

When it is impossible or impractical to compile a list of the population elements, a cluster sample is the best option. This technique involves dividing the population into clusters (usually based on geographic location or some other identifiable characteristic) and then selecting a random sample of clusters to survey. This method can be more cost-effective and manageable than other techniques, such as a simple random sample or stratified sample.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best example of the use of judgmental sampling?
A) exit polls on election days
B) surveys of all police chiefs in America
C) interviews of female inmates in the Los Angeles County Jail
D) households participating in the National Crime Victimization Survey

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the best...

Question 10

When considering probability sampling in general, it is usually the preferred method for selecting study elements because:
A) probability sampling avoids conscious biases on the part of the researcher
B) it does not permit the researcher to estimate the sampling error
C) it does not control unconscious biases in the selection process
D) nonprobability sampling is too difficult

Accepted Answer

The answer of When considering probability sampling in general, it...

Question 11

When a researcher uses probability sampling, he/she can:
A) never be sure that the sample reflects the population from which it was drawn
B) estimate the amount of sampling error that can be expected
C) never guarantee the population elements of a known nonzero probability of being selected for the sample
D) never be sure that the entire sampling frame was included

Accepted Answer

Probability sampling allows for the estimation of sampling error, which is the degree of variability between the sample and population. This allows the researcher to determine the accuracy of the sample and the level of generalizability to the population.

Question 12

Dwayne wanted to find out what the citizens of Canton think about a proposed law that would require sex offenders to be treated in the community in lieu of prison confinement and he decided to randomly call people listed in the phone book. What is his sampling frame?
A) the citizens of Canton
B) the proposed law
C) telephone listings
D) sex offenders

Accepted Answer

Dwayne's sampling frame is the list of telephone listings in the phone book, since he is randomly calling people listed in it. He does not have access to the entire population of citizens of Canton or a list of all sex offenders, so those options cannot be his sampling frame. The proposed law is the subject of investigation, but not the actual group being sampled.

Question 13

Reporters from your local television news affiliate frequently ask people on a pedestrian shopping street during the lunch hour their opinions about criminal justice issues and play the responses on the 6:00 news. The reporters are using:
A) reliance on available subjects
B) probability sampling
C) stratified sampling
D) quota sampling

Accepted Answer

The reporters are using reliance on available subjects, as they are selecting people who are readily available on the pedestrian shopping street during the lunch hour, rather than using a specific sampling method.

Question 14

Which of the following does not illustrate a population where cluster sampling would be the best choice?
A) law enforcement officers in the United States
B) citizens of Florida
C) probation officers in America
D) inmates in the Wayne County jail

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following does not illustrate...

Question 15

Which method begins with a matrix or table describing the characteristics of a target population?
A) probability
B) snowball
C) quota
D) simple random sampling

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling begins with a matrix or table describing the characteristics of a target population, and then quotas are set for each characteristic to ensure that the sample represents the population in terms of those characteristics. The other methods listed do not necessarily involve starting with a matrix or table.

Question 16

Which of the following is accurate concerning the use of systematic sampling?
A) systematic sampling is a poor excuse for simple random sampling
B) systematic sampling is often used as a substitute for stratified sampling
C) systematic sampling is frequently used rather than a simple random sample
D) systematic sampling is always considered a nonprobability sampling technique

Accepted Answer

Systematic sampling is frequently used as an alternative to simple random sampling because it is simpler to implement. It involves selecting elements from an ordered sampling frame at regular intervals, determined by the sampling interval. This method is often chosen for its efficiency and ease of use, especially when a complete list of the population is available.

Question 17

Reliance on available subjects can be an appropriate sampling method if:
A) the researcher wants to study the characteristics of people who are passing the sample point at some specified time
B) collecting data from people what have all characteristics of a matrix
C) the researcher wants to do research on active criminals or deviants
D) the researcher only has a questionnaire to be completed

Accepted Answer

Reliance on available subjects is appropriate when the researcher wants to study the characteristics of people who are passing the sample point at some specified time. For example, a researcher can conduct a survey of shoppers in a mall during a specific time of the day or week. However, relying on available subjects can introduce bias if the sample is not representative of the population of interest.

Question 18

Quota samples, judgmental samples, snowball samples and reliance on available subjects are all examples of:
A) nonprobability sampling
B) probability sampling
C) sampling distributions
D) sampling frames

Accepted Answer

Quota samples, judgmental samples, snowball samples, and reliance on available subjects are all examples of nonprobability sampling methods. These methods do not guarantee that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, which is a requirement for probability sampling methods. Nonprobability sampling is often used when it is difficult or impractical to obtain a random sample.

Question 19

When a researcher uses a stratified sampling technique, they:
A) select elements from heterogeneous subsets of the population
B) recognize the extent that subsets are homogeneous on stratified variables will generally result in homogeneity on other variables as well
C) realize that a stratified sample is likely to be less representative on a number of variables than a simple random sample
D) recognize the extent that subsets are heterogeneous on stratified variables will generally result in heterogeneity on other variables as well

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a researcher uses a stratified sampling...

Question 20

The method of relying on available subjects is sometimes misleadingly called:
A) cluster sampling
B) convenience sampling
C) snowball sampling
D) quota sampling

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling involves selecting the most easily accessible subjects for a study, which may not be representative of the entire population.

Quiz 8: Sampling

Which of the following is not an example of a multistage cluster sample?

In order to study active criminals who have not been arrested for their criminal acts, the researcher would be wise to employ which type of sampling technique?

Multistage cluster sampling with stratification, systematic sampling, simple random sampling and disproportionate stratified sampling are examples of:

Which sampling method is commonly used to pretest a questionnaire?

The true list of elements in the population is called the:

When researching a population where it is impossible or impractical to compile a list of the elements, what is the proper sampling technique to use?

Which of the following is the best example of the use of judgmental sampling?

When considering probability sampling in general, it is usually the preferred method for selecting study elements because:

When a researcher uses probability sampling, he/she can:

Dwayne wanted to find out what the citizens of Canton think about a proposed law that would require sex offenders to be treated in the community in lieu of prison confinement and he decided to randomly call people listed in the phone book. What is his sampling frame?

Reporters from your local television news affiliate frequently ask people on a pedestrian shopping street during the lunch hour their opinions about criminal justice issues and play the responses on the 6:00 news. The reporters are using:

Which of the following does not illustrate a population where cluster sampling would be the best choice?

Which method begins with a matrix or table describing the characteristics of a target population?

Which of the following is accurate concerning the use of systematic sampling?

Reliance on available subjects can be an appropriate sampling method if:

Quota samples, judgmental samples, snowball samples and reliance on available subjects are all examples of:

When a researcher uses a stratified sampling technique, they:

The method of relying on available subjects is sometimes misleadingly called: