Sampling and Participants

Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Outline
Population Validity
Sampling Methods
Simple Random Sampling
Stratified Sampling
Cluster Sampling
Convenience Sampling
Sample Size
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Population Validity
Extent that an experiments results can
generalize beyond participants in a
particular study to a larger group of
people
Research Example: A descriptive study
examining the extent of parents
involvement in schools
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Parents in these two samples (government school vs.
Hillcrest) will likely have different involvement in their
childs education because of many different reasons
finances, parental education, trust of school officials, etc.
The purpose of sampling validity is to make a strong
argument for why the results of your study will generalize
beyond those who participated in your study.
Population
All Nigerian parents with children in school
Sample
All Nigerian parents with students
in Government Secondary School
Sample
All Nigerian parents with students
in Hillcrest
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Simple Random Sampling
Definition: All individuals in the defined
population have an equal chance of being
part of the sample.
Advantage: Conclusions from the data
can be generalized to the larger
population
Disadvantage: Difficult to implement, so
very few studies actually use simple
random sampling
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Simple Random Sampling Example
Population:
All Nigerian parents with children in school
Size: Millions of adults
Sample:
Those randomly chosen from the population.
Size: 100-200
Participants are chosen randomly
either through a random number
table or putting all names in a hat.
For this study, simple random
sampling would be practically
impossible.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Random Sampling vs.
Random Assignment
Random Sampling: Randomly selecting those
people who will participate in your study.
Allows you to generalize your findings beyond the
sample of your study.
However, few educational studies can practically use
random selection.
Random Assignment: Once you participants
have been selected, they are randomly placed
into the treatment and control groups.
Only applies to experimental design
MUST be used for an experiment to be a true
experiment.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Random Sampling
Population
Sample
Randomly chose people from the
population to be part of the
research sample.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Random Assignment
Sample
1. Names of all
participants are
placed in a hat
Treatment
Group
Control
Group
2. As names are drawn out of the
hat, they are placed in alternating
order into the treatment and
control groups.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Stratified Sampling
Definition: Select a sample so certain subgroups
can be adequately represented
Subgroups, or stratums, are identified by demographic
variables of interest to the study, such as gender,
ethnicity, age, occupation, etc.
Random sampling will be used within each stratum.
Use If:
The group is heterogeneous on an important variable
(e.g., ethnicity, gender).
or
The purpose of the study is to compare groups of
different characteristics (e.g., a causal-comparative
study)
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Stratified Random Sampling Example
In the research example, one research question
may compare the participation of mothers to the
participation of fathers in their childs education.
To test the difference between mothers and fathers, an
equal number of mothers and fathers must be selected
for the sample.
Therefore, the population should first be divided into
male and female, and then random selection applied
within each group.
Procedure:
1. Determine the stratums to be sampled.
2. Determine the number of participants necessary for
each stratum.
3. Randomly sample participants from within each
sample.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Stratified Random Sampling Example
Population Stratum:
Fathers of children in school
Sample
Randomly chose the
same number from
both stratums.
Population Stratum:
Mothers of children in school
The resulting sample will have
an equal number of
participants from both
stratums.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Cluster Sampling
Definition: Randomly sample a naturally
occurring group of people
For example: A group could be a classroom of students
Advantage: Easier to conduct the study.
Disadvantage: Regular statistics CANNOT be
conducted with cluster sampling.
Instead of conducting statistics on participants data,
you have to conduct the statistics on the groups data.
Therefore, finding significant results is considerably
more difficult.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Cluster Sampling Example
Population Groups:
Schools in Nigeria
Sample
Randomly chose the
groups from the
population.
The resulting sample will be
analyzed based on the GROUP
data.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Convenience Sampling
Definition: Selects a sample that suits the
purpose of the study and is convenient.
Advantage: Practically, most of the other
sampling methods are impossible to accomplish.
A strategic convenience sample makes
psychological and educational research possible.
Disadvantage: The researcher has to build a
case in the conclusion of their paper about the
group of people the studys findings will
generalize to.
Note: Virtually all educational research uses
convenience sampling, perhaps with some
elements of random sampling or stratified
random sampling.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Convenience Sampling
When using convenience sampling, you
will improve the quality of your work if
you:
Specifically describe the characteristics of your
sample.
Give a rationale for why the sample was
appropriate for your study
Specify the population to which your results
will likely generalize.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Convenience Sampling Example
Population:
All Nigerian parents with children in school
Sample
Participants are chosen from a
group that is convenient to the
experimenter and relevant for the
purposes of the study.
This convenience sample includes participants from
four schools that are geographically close to the
experimenter and schools where the experimenter
personally knows the headmaster. However, the
experimenter made a point to select two public and
two private schools, as well as a school with mostly
wealthy children, a school with mostly poor children,
and two schools in between because these
characteristics may influence the results of the study.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Sample Size
General Rule: Larger samples are better
Larger samples more accurately reflect the
characteristics of the general population.
Larger samples also increase your chances of
getting significant results for your study
because one of the values that determine
statistical significance is the size of the
sample.
Exception: Case studies and qualitative
studies tend to use smaller sample sizes
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
Minimum Sample Size
Descriptive Survey Research Designs
At least 100 participants in each group
Causal-Comparative Research Designs
At least 15 participants in each group to be
compared
Correlational Research Designs
At least 30 participants
Experimental Research Designs
At least 15 participants in the control group
and at least 15 participants in each treatment
group.
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos