Population and Sample

Since I have the momentum to write, I shall share with you with academic notes about the population and sample in educational research (can be applied to other social science research too).

moreover..since I will sent my thesis draft, I am doing some readings and taking some notes about above-mentioned title.

FAQ

1.When to write ‘population and sample’ in the thesis?

Ans: It is to be written under Chapter 3; and under sub-chapter ‘Population and Sample’ or ‘Sample and Population’, any of this two.

2. What is the difference between Population and Sample?

Ans: I shall gives you the definite mean of population, then followed by sample.

a) Population : The target population is a group or individuals to whom your survey/research applies. It should be represented as a finite list of all of its members.

b) Sample : It is a representative subset of a population. If we do not have the representative sample, we cannot claim that our result generalize to target population.

3. What are the sampling methods in quantitative research?

Ans: Basically there are two types of sampling method  to be applied in quantitative research. These are the followings:

a) Random Sampling

b) Non-Random Sampling

Let me explains further on these two types of sampling method

i) Random Sampling

– This method is also known as probability sampling. Why? Because they permit the researcher to specify the probability or chance that each member of a defined population will be selected as a sample.

ii) Non-Random Sampling

– This method is also known as non-probability sampling. Why? contradict to random sampling in which it does not permit the researcher to specify the probability or chance that each member of a defined population will be selected as a sample.

– It is difficult to describe the population from which a sample was drawn and to whom the result can be generalized.

– It may create sampling bias.

– It can be overcame by obtaining information from non respondents

4. What are the techniques/types in selecting a Random Sample?

Ans: There are basically four techniques of selecting a random sample which are:

a) Simple Random Sampling

b) Stratified Sampling

c) Cluster Sampling

d) Systematic Sampling

 5. Explain each of the technique in selecting a Random Sample.

a) Simple Random Sampling:

– A technique of obtaining a sample in such a way that all individuals have the chance or probability to be selected as a sample of the study.

– It is completely out of the researcher control.

– It means that each individuals in the population has the probability of being selected.

– Random sampling is a best way to obtain a representative sample of the population.

b) Stratified Sampling:

– When population is sub divided into groups, known as strata. The idea is to obtain a sample from each sub group.

– The best to be applied among researcher who wish to compare a behavior of participants from different subgroups of population.

– For example, if the researcher wish to compare the achievement of students ho have different ability levels (High, Average and Low) and are taught by one of two methods of mathematics instructions (e.g teacher and computer). The teacher could first identify the sub groups based on students’ ability, then randomly select the students in each sub group and assigning half of each selected group to each of the instruction method.

c) Cluster Sampling

– Intact group, NOT individuals are randomly selected.

– Examples of clusters are classrooms, schools, city blocks, hospitals, etc.

– Advantageous for educational researcher, as they frequently cannot select and assign individual participants as they may like.

– For example, if the population of your quantitative study is the undergraduate students who are taking media and technology subject, you might be very likely to have participants of students who are taking the subject in one classroom.

d) Systematic Sampling

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Yuuhuuuuu

Wowww…Assalamualaikum and Gud evening everyone! Its been ages since my last post. Well, I really need to gear up my motivation to write something on this blog.

Since August, There was a lot of interesting event happened to me. Let me begin with a list.
1. My cat (belang) had lost his contact with our family since Sept, 2013. However, he managed to tracked our house 3 and a half months after his disappearance. Boy, his condition is utterly bad. He lost his weight (no more excess fat on his belly). His fur is dirty. He had scratched mark (a big one) on his right thigh. His face is like ‘abang long’ one. Very fierce and gangster-looking cat. I was the one who first realized that belang was in front of our house, at the verandah. Man, I cant handle the excitement. I love him sooo sooo much and I missed him a lot! Can’t believe that he finally found his home!. Alhamdulillah Thank you Allah who guide him to tracked our house. Finally, we are complete again:)

2. I was engaged! I was engaged and to be married to Mohd Nabil Jainal. My long time best friend, boyfriend, schoolmate, matrix-mate and uni-mate..hee hee. The wedding date is on Nov this year. 1 November, 2014 to be precised. Insyaallah. How we met? we were getting seriously involved, I mean the love strikes five years back when I was a master student in UTM, he was a research assistant at UTM too. His faculty is beside my faculty, so that means a lot. We were getting closer and closer each day. Everything happened so fast. Deep down inside me, I was and I am clearly sure hat he is the one. Oh yeah, we were schoolmate from 1999-2003 and we were at the same matriculation in Tangkak in 2004-2005. We were just friend back then. But now, here we are, planning for the wedding, arguing and stuffs. But I am pretty fine with that..hahah

3. I already on my 6th semester of my PhD study, which mean that I am going to graduate soon..hihi..Insyaallah. I already submitted my notice for thesis submission to the school of graduate studies. Hopefully, i can submit my first draft this month. Mid of April. Wish me luck!!

4. I was participated in 3 Minute Thesis Competition for Faculty Level last two weeks. I won third place, Alhamdullillah. Will represent my faculty for University level. Pray for me!! 🙂

So that was it. Pretty much sums up everything about events happened this past couple of months.

till we meet again! XoXo – Nurul

The EID

Its not too late to wish everyone Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Maaf Zahir Batin! Wish everyone had a joyous raya celebration!

Competition, conference and trip to Perak

Its been a long time since my last entry. I was quite busy with my study, competition and conference and not to mention my papers and theses (@.@). Early this month i was participated in ITEX 2013, an international competition for researchers, technologist n innovators to present their work or their products for future commercialization. It is held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, KLCC. Alhamdulillah, i won the gold medal! ;). With me, there are other 25 delegates from UTM won the gold medal, 10 others won silver medal. I was quite shocked since i didn’t expect much, i just came with hope for pertaining experiences. My product is learning 2D animation apps. Apps that assist students in learning Adobe Flash software with self designed step by step video tutorial. Alhamdullillah, it is something that is beyond my expectation and I was rather shocked than happy at that moment. I still remember i ask my labmate, Ija like “why us?? how can we win gold medal??” Totally hillarious :). Thank god for everything. My hard work pays off. Well said, the beginning is always the hardest. I still remember i was crying in front of my computer just to get the job done since i dont have the basic in developing iPad apps. But somehow, i’ve made it. 😀

After went for the competition, i went to IETC 2013. 13th I’nal Educational Technology Conference in Univ. of Malaya. It was a huge success for me and my labmates. Insyaallah all of our papers will be published in Procedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences. An indexed journal, scopus listed by science direct database.

Trip to Perak was the best! With great hospitality from my friend’s family, Sham. We had fun on our trip to the lost world of Tambun, Lumut and Teluk Batik. Last but not least, do enjoy few pics from my activities this month 🙂

My belang n kuning

I want to introduce you my two precious cats

belang n kuning lost their mom when they were just 4 days old. They got other 3 siblings but only belang and kuning survive. Its hard when 4 days old kitten left untreated by their own mother. Me n my family have to feed them, clean their waste, giving them milk n etc. but alhamdulilah till now belang n kuning happily and actively clinging around me n the rest of family members. We love them so bloody much. We will take care of belang n kuning as it is like amanah from Allah to test our patience and I still remember when my ibu said ” Allah matikan meow(their mom) sbb Allah nk bg akak pahala lebih” hopefully. Amin. Here are some pic of late meow. We missed her.still.

To tell you the truth

When two PhD students are going nuts.. This is me n my labmates talking about our spm result.. Hihi

To tell you the truth our SPM result does not mempengaruhi the road to our phd. We are average students. Most got 5a and 6a. We were not excellent students back then. Not even the scorer of all subjects. But we manage to follow our dream. Just because our determination, passion, believe and trust ourselves to gain our dream. You too. Be positive. You can achieve your dream. Insyaallah 😉

Academic Writing

I have attended academic writing short course last week.

Here are some tips that I want to share with uols 😉

Last week, I have learned about the FLOW in academic writing.

What is FLOW?

1. Flow is about a continuity of your sentences in your thesis. Its like taking your readers to focus on the knowledge that you want to share throughout your writing.
2. It shows how your ideas moves and connects from background of problem to the suggested solution.
3. The purpose is to establish a clear connections from 1 sentences to another.

Bear in mind, that there are 2 paradigm in academic writing:

1. Writer Responsibility Culture
2. Reader Responsibility Culture

Writer responsibility  culture refers to the state where writer consciously intended to make sure that the readers understand their writing.

While reader responsibility culture refers to the state where readers need to or having a hard time understanding what is actually written.

Academics (read in social science filed) should be on the state of writer responsibility culture to make sure readers clearly understand their writing. Everything must clearly define in details. However, in science field, scientist have different way of organizing their writing. Their idea should be straight to the point, clear and doesn’t need everything to be explain in details. That’s why they obviously can write a paper/article with 3 pages length.

So, how to connect your sentences??

1. Give an example
2. Elaborate your ideas (and of course with proves from previous literature)
3. Repeat your words (depends on the structure of your sentences – just to clarify your stands)
4. Use linking words and phrases (eg: subordinators, sentences connectors, phrase linkers, etc )

This is the skills in which everyone can learn by — WRITING 😉

I give you an example of linking words that can help academic writers establish relationship between their ideas.

1. For additional ideas: Furthermore, in addition, moreover, besides, also, too, etc
2. To introduce opposite ideas: Although, even though, despite the fact that, while, whereas, etc
3. To show reasons or cause of something: because, since, so, therefore, as a result, consequently, hence, thus, etc
4. To clarify or further explain your ideas: in other words,that is, i.e
5. To show opposites: in contrast, however, on the other hand, etc
6. To introduce an example: conversely, for example, for instance, etc
7. To promote own result or to reconfirm your idea and to emphasize your point: on the contrary, as a matter of fact, in fact, indeed, etc

These are some of the words that might be helpful for you to come with a continuous ideas, connected together and build a well-designed structures of words in your thesis. Well, Good Luck Everybody! 😉

XOXO – Nurul

My obsession

I am crazy over handbags. The latest handbag that i bought was from coach, legacy ocelot print rory satchel. It is a medium size handbag with spacious interior. Suitable if you’re carrying it out for holiday.

wishlist:

Daily Dose

So now, I got new readers which are you, you and you. you know who. huhu. Actually, I wasn’t quite ready to blog when I know uols will read it. haha. So back to the topic in which the topic hasn’t been declared yet. 🙂 Hmm. Lets start with the word F. F stands for Friendship. yeah you got that. friendship is the art of mastery others heart and soul with the connections of humanely criteria which consist of honesty, caring, tender, love, and etc. These peoples connected to you without reasons. They are there when you need them. So does they need you in the same way. So, appreciate them. Be thankful simply because you have them around. So this post is a token of my appreciation to those who are around me during my PhD journey in UTM. I just wanted you all to know that my life has been amazing, less tense and more lively than before. Thank you for everything. Much love, xoxo =)

Belang

Poor belang..:(