Paper 3/4 - Practical 

Planning and Strategising

Sampling

Different types of sampling have various advantages depending on the research question, study design, and available resources. Here are some advantages of different types of sampling:

Random sampling: 

• Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. Advantages include:

• It is easy to understand and implement.

• It is unbiased and free from researcher influence.

• It can yield a representative sample if the sample size is large enough.

Stratified random sampling: 

Population is divided into strata based on a particular characteristic, and a random sample is taken from each stratum. Advantages include:

• It ensures representation of each subgroup in the population.

• It reduces variability and increases precision by taking into account the differences between subgroups.

• It can save time and resources compared to other methods of sampling.

Systematic sampling: 

A fixed interval is used to select participants from a list or population. Advantages include:

• It is easy to implement and requires minimal resources.

• It provides an unbiased sample if the list is random or the population is homogeneous.

• It can be more efficient than simple random sampling.

Convenience sampling: Participants are chosen based on their availability or willingness to participate. Advantages include:

• It is easy and inexpensive to implement.

• It can be useful for preliminary research or exploratory studies.

• It can provide valuable insights into specific populations or subgroups.

However, convenience sampling is generally considered less reliable and less representative than other sampling methods because it may introduce bias and may not accurately represent the population of interest.

Data Collection & Presentation (GCSE A* standard)