SOCI 2030 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6,10,11 : Multiple Dispatch, Active Listening, Focus Group
Document Summary
Social researchers must select observations that will allow them to generalize to people and evens not observed. Often, this involves a selection of people to observe sampling. Social researchers have developed several sampling techniques appropriate to different research situations. Sometimes you can and should select probability samples using precise statistical techniques, but other times nonprobability techniques are more appropriate. Nonprobability sampling techniques include relying on available subjects, purposive (judgmental sampling), snowball sampling, and quota sampling. In quota sampling you being with a detailed description of the characteristics of the total population (quota matrix) and the select your sample members so that they include different composite profiles that exist in the population. The representativeness of a quota sampling depends in large parts on how accurately the quota matrix reflects the characteristics of the population. Nonprobability techniques are useful, but none of them ensures that the resulting sample is representative of the population being samples.
