Sampling Techniques

A researcher divides a group of students according to gender, major field, and low, average, and high grade point average. Then she randomly selects six students from each group to answer questions in a survey.

• Simple

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Cluster

• Multistage

The students in a selected course are numbered. Then a sample of these students is selected using random numbers.

• Simple

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Cluster

• Multistage

Every 10th teacher in a school district is selected then invited to be the respondents of a study.

• Simple

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Cluster

• Multistage

To determine how long people exercise, a researcher interviews 5 people selected from a yoga class, 5 people selected from a weight-lifting class, 5 people selected from an aerobics class, and 5 people from swimming classes.

• Simple

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Cluster

• Multistage

In a large school district, a researcher sends the questionnaire to the school heads then the heads distribute them to the teachers under their supervision.

• Simple

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Cluster

• Multistage

A researcher surveys students in a university cafeteria during lunch hours, asking them about their eating habits.

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Convenience

• Purposive

• Snowball

A social researcher is interested in learning about the experiences of recent immigrants. After interviewing one immigrant, the researcher asks them to refer other immigrants they know to participate in the study.

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Convenience

• Purposive

• Snowball

A psychologist conducting a study on depression selects participants who have been diagnosed with clinical depression to understand the treatment process.

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Convenience

• Purposive

• Snowball

A health researcher investigating the use of alternative medicine asks one holistic healer to recommend other healers in their network who may also participate in the study.

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Convenience

• Purposive

• Snowball

A market researcher asks shoppers entering a local mall to fill out a survey about their purchasing preferences.

• Systematic

• Stratified

• Convenience

• Purposive

• Snowball