Objectives -- After completing this module, you will be able to:
Class Preparation & Participation
Everyone must post to the Week 7 discussion board -- Sampling Principles and Types of Samples. The task is fairly simple. Write a brief statement of the 2 or 3 key ideas you got from each of the two videos linked below. Focus on information that is new to you, things about sampling you did not know before.
This is a very basic Introduction to Probability Sampling (4 minutes) I recommend you start with this video UNLESS you have a basic knowledge of probability sampling, in which case you may not benefit much from it. Of course, you are only investing 4 minutes.
This is a video that focuses on the differences between probability and non-probability sampling approaches. Probability and Non-Probability Sampling in Research Methods (20 minutes). If you have no background in sampling, the 20 minutes spent on the video will help you a great deal.
These are also very good resources
Using Non-Probability Sampling Methods in Agricultural and Extension Education Research This article provides a good discussion of the value of non-probability samples -- when they can be used and how much we can generalize from such samples. This is an easy read and it is key to understanding both the value and the limitations of non-probability samples.
Gorard, Identifying the Sample or Cases, pp. 73-92 Keep this at hand. It is very important for understanding probability (random) sampling.
Please review these materials. They were listed in previous weeks, but they have a lot of information in them. It is useful to have them readily available.
Types of Samples -- another one of my cheat sheets.
Additional Resources about Sampling
Abrams, L.S. (2010) Sampling "hard to reach" populations in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work 9(4), 536-550.
Ahern, K. & LeBrocque, R. (2005) Methodological issues in the effects of attrition: simple solutions for social scientists. Field Methods 17(1), 53-69.
Barratt, M.J., Ferris, J.A. & Lenton, S. (2014) Hidden populations, online purposive sampling, and external validity: Taking off the blindfold. Field Methods 27(1), 3-21.
Bethlehem, J. (2016) Solving the nonresponse problem with sample matching. Social Science Computer Review 34(1), 59-77.
Bryant, J. (2014) Using respondent-driven sampling with "hard to reach" marginalised young people: Problems with slow recruitment and small network size. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 17(6), 599-611.
De Boni, R., Do Nascimento Silva, P.L., Bastos, F.I., Pechansky, F. et al. (2012) Reading the hard-to-reach: A probability sampling method for assessing prevalence of driving under the influence after drinking in alcohol outlets. PLoS ONE 7(4), 1-9.
Draugalis, J.R. & Plaza, C. (2009) Best practices for survey research reports revisited: Implications of target population, probability sampling, and response rate. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 73(8), 1-3.
Ellard-Gray, A., Jeffrey, N.K., Choubak, M. & Crann, S.E. (2015) Finding the hidden participant: Solutions for recruiting hidden, hard-to-reach, and vulnerable populations. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 14(5), 1-10.
Gile, K.J. & Handcock, M.S. (2010) Respondent-driven sampling: An assessment of current methodology. Sociological Methodology 40(1):, 285-327.
Glick, P. (2008) Restating the case: The benefits of diverse samples for theory development. Psychological Inquiry 19(2), 78-83.
Griffith, D.A., Morris, E.S. & Thakar, V. (2016) Spatial autocorrelation and qualitative sampling: The case of snowball type sampling designs. Annals of the American Association of Geographers 106(4), 773-787.
Kondo, M.C., Bream, K.D.W., Barg, F.K. & Branas, C.C. (2014) A random spatial sampling method in a rural developing nation. BMC Public Health 14(1), 1-15.
Mookherji, S. & LaFond, A. (2013) Strategies to maximize generalization from multiple case studies: Lessons from the Africa Routine Immunization System Essentials (ARISE) project. Evaluation 19(3), 284-303.
Murray, G.R., Rugeley, C.R., Mitchell, D. & Mondak, J.J. (2013) Convenient yet not a convenience sample: Jury pools as experimental subject pools. Social Science Research 42(1), 246-253.
Nguyen, P. (2004) The census, sampling and African Americans. Western Journal of Black Studies 28(1), 292-302.
Noy, C. (2008) Sampling knowledge: The hermeneutics of snowball sampling in qualitative research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 11(4), 327-344.
Polit, D.F. & Beck, C.T. (2010). Generalization in quantitative and qualitative research: Myths and strategies. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 47(11) 1451-1458.
Roy, K., Zvonkovic, A., Goldberg, A., Sharp, E. & LaRossa, R. (2015) Sampling richness and qualitative integrity: Challenges for research with families. Journal of Marriage and Family 77(1), 243-260.
Seawright, J. & Gerring, J. (2008) Case selection techniques in case study research: A menu of qualitative and quantitative options. Political Research Quarterly 61(2), 294-308.
Simmons, A.D. & Bobo, L.D. (2015) Can non-full-probability internet surveys yield useful data? A comparison with full-probability face-to-face surveys in the domain of race and social inequality attitudes. Sociological Methodology 45(1), 357-387.
Sydor, A. (2013) Conducting research into hidden or hard-to-reach populations. Nurse Researcher 20(3), 33-37.
Yin, R.K. (2013) Validity and generalization in future case study evaluations. Evaluation 19(3), 321-332.
Zhu, J.J.H., Mo, Q., Wang, F. & Lu, H. (2010) A random digit search (RDS) method for sampling of blogs and other user-generated content. Social Science Computer Review. 29(3), 327-339.