Discussion: Population and Sampling
Probability and nonprobability are the two general categories of sampling. Probability sampling uses random selection, whereas nonprobability sampling does not. For example, if you wanted to study the effects of divorce on the psychological development of adolescents, you could gather a population of a certain number of adolescents whose parents were divorced.
Then, out of that population, you could randomly select 25 of those people. If you wanted to use nonprobability sampling, you would choose specific people who had met predetermined criteria.
Consider your own proposed study: Which of these sampling techniques might be best for your purposes?
In this Discussion, you identify the population, sample, and sampling technique for your study. You then consider ethical or cultural issues related to the population that you should address.
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on sampling in research and on ethics related to vulnerable populations.
Questions to be answer
1. Restate your research question and your chosen methodological approach.
2. Then, identify the population, sample, and sampling technique that would best address your research question and approach. Justify your choices.
3. What are some ethical and cultural concerns that need to be addressed with this population if studied?
