SOCI 251 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Nonprobability Sampling, Participant Observation, Ethnography
Document Summary
Why do field researchers generally use nonrandom selection of settings and. Contrast the general sampling strategy of field research with that of survey (a) a case study is a holistic analysis of a single social phenomenon or setting, such as. Field research is particularly appropriate when studying fleeting or dynamic situations, research? a particular community, organization, or small informal group. (b) an ethnography is the description of a particular culture. Survey research ordinarily uses probability sampling with the goal of generating accurate statistical descriptions of a particular population. Deciding on the sampling design and selecting units occur prior to data collection. However, the objectives of field research to get an insider"s view, to describe a particular social setting, and to develop working hypotheses do not require probability sampling. Rather, sampling ordinarily is carried out over the entire course of field research as a means of extending, testing, or filling in gaps in one"s information.
