simply includes the individuals who happen to be most accessible to the researcher.

. The number of people you have access to "snowballs” as you get in contact with more people. The downside here is also representativeness, as you have no way of knowing how representative your sample is due to the reliance on participants recruiting others. This can lead to sampling bias.

This type of sampling, also known as judgement sampling, involves the researcher using their expertise to select a sample that is most useful to the purposes of the research.

It is mainly used in quantitative research.

Properties: 1. Data classifications are represented by sets of labels or names (high, medium, low) that have relative values. 2. Because of the relative values, the data classified can be ranked or ordered.

If it is practically possible, you might include every individual from each sampled cluster. If the clusters themselves are large, you can also sample individuals from within each cluster using one of the techniques above.

- the characteristic being studied is nonnumeric.

is a collection of all possible individuals, objects, or measurements of interest.

_____ is the "highest" level of measurement.

. Every member of the population is listed with a number, but instead of randomly generating numbers, individuals are chosen at regular intervals

relies on the non-random selection of a predetermined number or proportion of units.

methods of organizing, summarizing, and presenting data in an informative way.

can be used to recruit participants via other participants

- information is reported numerically.

-data arranged in some order, but the differences between data values cannot be determined or are meaningless.

s A decision, estimate, prediction, or generalization about a population based o on a sample.

is similar to simple random sampling, but it is usually slightly easier to conduct

1. Convenience sampling A convenience sample simply includes the individuals who happen to be most accessible to the researcher. This is an easy and inexpensive way to gather initial data, but there is no way to tell if the sample is representative of the population, so it can't produce generalizable results. Convenience samples are at risk for both _____

Practically all quantitative data is recorded on the ratio level of measurement.

- with the additional property that meaningful amounts of differences between data values can be determined. There is no natural zero point.

Properties: 1. Observations of a qualitative variable can only be classified and counted. 2. There is no particular order to the labels.

Non-probability sampling techniques are often used in _______ and _____. In these types of research, the aim is not to test a hypothesis about a broad population, but to develop an initial understanding of a small or under- 24searched population.

- involves dividing the population into subpopulations that may differ in important ways.

, individuals are selected based on non-random criteria, and not every individual has a chance of being included.

It allows you draw more precise conclusions by ensuring that every subgroup is properly represented in the sample.

Properties: 1. Data classifications are ordered according to the amount of the characteristic they possess. 2. Equal differences in the characteristic are represented by equal differences in the measurements.

-the interval level with an inherent zero starting point. Differences and ratios are meaningful for this level of measurement.

Properties: 1. Data classifications are ordered according to the amount of the characteristics they possess. 2. Equal differences in the characteristic are represented by equal differences in the numbers assigned to the classifications. 3. The zero point is the absence of the characteristic and the ratio between two numbers is meaningful.

involves the researcher using their expertise to select a sample that is most useful to the purposes of the research.

- data that is classified into categories and cannot be arranged in any particular order.

. can only assume certain values and there are usually "gaps" between values.

refers to numerical information

is mainly based on ease of access. Instead of the researcher choosing participants and directly contacting them, people volunteer themselves (e.g. by responding to a public online survey).

means that every member of the population has a chance of being selected. It is mainly used in quantitative research. If you want to produce results that are representative of the whole population, probability sampling techniques are the most valid choice.

is a portion, or part, of the population of interest

can assume any value within a specified range.

To use this sampling method, you divide the population into subgroups (called strata) based on the relevant characteristic (e.g., gender identity, age range, income bracket, job role).

It is often used in qualitative research, where the researcher wants to gain detailed knowledge about a specific phenomenon rather than make statistical inferences, or where the population is very small and specific.

. A population or sample may consist of _____ or ____

These units share specific characteristics, determined by you prior to forming your strata.

- also involves dividing the population into subgroups, but each subgroup should have similar characteristics to the whole sample. Instead of sampling individuals from each subgroup, you randomly select entire subgroups.

This is an easy and inexpensive way to gather initial data, but there is no way to tell if the sample is representative of the population, so it can't produce generalizable results