Research Methods for Nurses and Midwives: Theory and Practice
Second Edition
by Merryl Harvey and Lucy Land
Student Resources
Chapter 15: Sampling
Quizzes give you the chance to test your knowledge through multiple choice questions, short answers, matching activities and other revision tools.
1. Match the correct term and definition:
Terms
- Total population
- Sample
- Representativeness
- Generalizability
- Transferability
- Data saturation
- Homogeneous sample
- Heterogeneous sample
- Probability sampling
- Non-probability sampling
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified random sampling
- Cluster sampling
- Convenience sampling
- Purposive sampling
- Quota sampling
- Snowball sampling
- Theoretical sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Power calculation
Definitions
- The study participants correspond to the wider population.
- Participants are recruited because they have ongoing or prior experience of the phenomena the researcher is exploring.
- The researcher pre-specifies the required characteristics of sample to ensure the final sample includes a certain number with each characteristic.
- When data collection and analysis does not reveal any new findings and therefore recruitment of further participants is unnecessary.
- The researcher recruits the most readily available participants who meet the study’s inclusion criteria.
- Potential participants have an equal or random chance of being invited to take part or being allocated to groups (experimental or control group).
- The total population is divided into sub-groups from each of which the sample is selected randomly.
- A sample with a wide range of characteristics.
- The researcher judges which potential participants to invite to take part in a study.
- The entire population from which the sample is drawn.
- The study findings can be applied to the wider population.
- The researcher specifically recruits participants who will help them to refine or challenge the theory they are developing.
- The most basic type of probability sampling. Each potential participant has an equal chance of being included in the sample.
- A sample with a single or narrow range of characteristics.
- Sampling which involves the identification of potential participants through referrals from earlier participants.
- The study total population is divided into sub-groups which are then selected randomly. Either the whole sub-group participates in the study or participants may be randomly selected from the sub-group.
- Combines probability and non-probability sampling whereby a list is made of all participants in the population. The first participant is selected randomly and from then on, every nth participant is selected.
- A method for identifying the minimum number of participants required to measure the impact of the independent variable.
- The extent to which the findings can be applied to other similar populations in other similar settings.
- A selection from, a sub-group or a sub-set of the total population.
Answer:
- Total population - The entire population from which the sample is drawn.
- Sample - A selection from, a sub-group or a sub-set of the total population.
- Representativeness - The study participants correspond to the wider population.
- Generalizability - The study findings can be applied to the wider population.
- Data saturation - When data collection and analysis does not reveal any new findings and therefore recruitment of further participants is unnecessary.
- Transferability - The extent to which the findings can be applied to other similar populations in other similar settings.
- Homogeneous sample - A sample with a single or narrow range of characteristics.
- Heterogeneous sample - A sample with a wide range of characteristics.
- Probability sampling - Potential participants have an equal or random chance of being invited to take part or being allocated to groups (experimental or control group).
- Non-probability sampling - Participants are recruited because they have ongoing or prior experience of the phenomena the researcher is exploring.
- Simple random sampling - The most basic type of probability sampling. Each potential participant has an equal chance of being included in the sample.
- Stratified random sampling - The total population is divided into sub-groups from which the sample is selected randomly.
- Cluster sampling - The study total population is divided into sub-groups which are then selected randomly. Either the whole sub-group participates in the study or participants may be randomly selected from the sub-group.
- Convenience sampling - The researcher recruits the most readily available participants who meet the study’s inclusion criteria.
- Purposive sampling - The researcher judges which potential participants to invite to take part in a study.
- Quota sampling - The researcher pre-specifies the required characteristics of sample to ensure the final sample includes a certain number with each characteristic.
- Snowball sampling - Sampling which involves the identification of potential participants through referrals from earlier participants.
- Theoretical sampling - The researcher specifically recruits participants who will help them to refine or challenge the theory they are developing.
- Systematic sampling - Combines probability and non-probability sampling whereby a list is made of all participants in the population. The first participant is selected randomly and from then on, every nth participant is selected.
- Power calculation - A method for identifying the minimum number of participants required to measure the impact of the independent variable.