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
–
UltimateNurul 