Question 1

Joe is the director of middle school science education for the state and is interested in differences between teaching science content in thematic units or by teaching the content in the units as presented in the students' text. He randomly selects classrooms in the state to participate. This best illustrates
A) simple random sampling.
B) systematic sampling.
C) stratified sampling.
D) cluster sampling.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of cluster sampling as Joe is selecting classrooms as clusters to participate in the study.

Question 2

The group that the researcher would ideally like to generalize findings to is referred to as
A) a sample.
B) a population.
C) a target population.
D) an accessible population.

Accepted Answer

A target population is the entire group a researcher is interested in studying or collecting data from, and to whom they would like to generalize their findings.

Question 3

Ken is conducting a qualitative study for the university regarding the institutional variables that racial and ethnic minority doctoral students face in completing their degrees. He feels he needs to interview about 35 graduates. He interviews a small initial sample identified though formal complaints filed regarding the issue. He then asks each of those he interviews to identify any additional participants they can think of and then interviews those individuals until he has reached his sample size. Ken is best illustrating
A) random purposive sampling.
B) systematic sampling.
C) intensity sampling.
D) snowball sampling.

Accepted Answer

Ken is using snowball sampling, as he is relying on referrals from his initial participants to identify additional participants for his study. This method is often used in studies where the population of interest is hard to reach or otherwise difficult to identify.

Question 4

The first step in probability sampling is to
A) identify the sampling technique to use.
B) identify the population.
C) determine the sample size.
D) select the sample.

Accepted Answer

The first step in probability sampling is to identify the population, which is the entire group of individuals or objects that the researcher is interested in studying. Without knowing the population, it is impossible to select a representative sample using probability sampling techniques. Once the population has been identified, the researcher can then determine the appropriate sampling technique to use, select the sample size, and select the sample.

Question 5

Some researchers have complained that most of the research that has been conducted with the benefits of animation for student learning has been done on college students enrolled in introductory courses at large research institutions. Assuming this is true what does this problem illustrate?
A) Cluster sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Purposive sampling
D) Convenience sampling

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling is when researchers use individuals who are easily accessible to them, rather than a representative sample. In this case, the researchers have only used college students at large research institutions, making this a convenience sample.

Question 6

Jill examines the career interest of children of international diplomats. She selects the children of international diplomats from the United States who were in service between 1980 and 1990. The children had to be at least eight years old but less than 16 at the time of their parent's service and had to be stationed outside the United States with their diplomat parent for at least 24 continuous months. Jill is using which type of sampling?
A) Random purposive sampling
B) Homogeneous sampling
C) Intensity sampling
D) Snowball sampling

Accepted Answer

Jill is using homogeneous sampling because she is selecting a specific group that shares common characteristics (children of international diplomats from the United States who were in service between 1980 and 1990, aged 8-16, and stationed outside the United States for at least 24 months) to examine their career interests. This method focuses on a particular subgroup within a population to ensure that all participants have similar backgrounds and experiences.

Question 7

Sophia needs to conduct a survey for the Alumni Association. She takes the list of all the alumni and calls every 10^th name on the list. Sophia is best illustrating A) stratified random sampling. B) cluster sampling. C) systematic sampling. D) simple random sampling.

Accepted Answer

Sophia is using systematic sampling, where she is selecting every 10th name from the list of alumni. Stratified random sampling involves dividing the population into subgroups and randomly selecting individuals from each subgroup. Cluster sampling involves dividing the population into clusters and randomly selecting entire clusters to survey. Simple random sampling involves selecting individuals at random from the population without any predetermined pattern or rule.

Question 8

In simple random sampling, after the researcher has determined the desired sample size, the next step is to
A) identify the population.
B) define the population.
C) list all members of the population.
D) select an arbitrary number from the table of random numbers.

Accepted Answer

In simple random sampling, after determining the sample size, the next step is to list all members of the population to ensure each member has an equal chance of being selected. This list is often referred to as the sampling frame.

Question 9

Jacki is conducting a study that examines the effects of multi-vitamins on common cold symptoms. She hopes to generalize her findings to the school-age population of children in a specified region in her state. The population of children is 9,000. She is going to conduct a survey and decides to sample 7000 children. Regarding Jacki's sample we know that
A) it is substantially too small.
B) it is not representative.
C) it will result in large sampling bias.
D) it is substantially too big.

Accepted Answer

Jacki's sample size of 7000 children is actually quite large given the population size of 9000 children. A sample size of around 385 would be sufficient to achieve a representative sample (assuming a margin of error of 5% and a 95% confidence level). A larger sample size may result in more accurate and precise estimates, but it is not substantially too big. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 10

Jane is conducting a study at a small liberal arts school on the East Coast that addresses the reasons why male college students are less likely to graduate within a four-year time frame than are female students. She would like her study to generalize to all of the college student population in the United States. Given Jane's study which of the following is the accessible population?
A) The participants in Jane's study
B) The students at small liberal arts schools on the East Coast
C) All college students in the United States
D) The students at the school from which the participants were sampled

Accepted Answer

The accessible population refers to the population from which the researcher can realistically draw participants. In Jane's case, this is the students at the school from which she is actually sampling, not the broader groups she hopes to generalize to or the specific participants in her study.

Question 11

Sean knows a lot about racial tensions in public schools. He wants to conduct a quantitative study that examines the current state of affairs in public schools. He contacts two school districts that he identified, one has a history of problems and one does not. He randomly selects students from these schools to participate in his study. Sean used
A) convenience sampling.
B) purposive sampling.
C) quota sampling.
D) multistage sampling.

Accepted Answer

Sean used purposive sampling because he specifically chose two school districts based on their history with racial tensions, indicating a deliberate choice of participants that fit certain criteria or characteristics related to his study's focus.

Question 12

The college Dean asked Meg to conduct a study to survey one half of the college students regarding their opinions of change in course offerings. Which nonrandom sampling approach is Meg likely to use?
A) Convenience sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Purposive sampling
D) Systematic sampling

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling is likely to be used in this scenario because it involves selecting a specific portion of the population to represent the whole, which aligns with the dean's request to survey half of the college students.

Question 13

Francisco is studying young children's color preferences by age. He is interested in comparing three, four, and five-year old children's color preferences. He is reluctant to use simple random sampling because he wants to assure that he has comparable numbers of children at each age. Which quantitative sampling strategy is the approach for Francisco to use?
A) Cluster sampling
B) Convenience sampling
C) Stratified sampling
D) Systematic sampling

Accepted Answer

Stratified sampling is the best approach for Francisco because he wants to ensure comparable numbers of children at each age group. With stratified sampling, the population is divided into subgroups or strata based on certain characteristics, and a random sample is then taken from each stratum. In this case, the strata would be the three age groups (three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and five-year-olds), and Francisco could select a proportional sample from each group to ensure that he has comparable numbers of children at each age.

Question 14

Participants identified as those from whom to seek information is the definition of
A) a sample.
B) a population.
C) a target population.
D) an accessible population.

Accepted Answer

A sample is a subset of a population that is used to represent the entire population. In this case, the participants are the sample, and they are the ones from whom information is sought.

Question 15

Ken randomly selected 75 students to participate in his study and then randomly assigned them to one of three conditions. When he examined his groups he found he had very unequal gender by condition. Ken's samples illustrate
A) sampling bias.
B) sampling error.
C) nonrandom sampling.
D) purposive sampling.

Accepted Answer

Sampling error occurs because the sample may not perfectly represent the entire population, leading to discrepancies such as unequal gender distribution across conditions, despite the random selection and assignment process.

Question 16

If all participants in a given sample have an equal and independent chance of being selected for a study it is said that the sample has been selected
A) randomly.
B) systematically.
C) biasedly.
D) conveniently.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling ensures that each member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the sample, reducing the chance of bias and increasing the generalizability of the findings. Systematic sampling involves selecting members of the population at fixed intervals rather than randomly, making it less representative of the population. Biased sampling involves selecting members of the population based on certain characteristics, leading to a sample that is not representative of the population. Convenient sampling involves selecting members of the population based on their availability, making it prone to bias and not representative of the population.

Question 17

Which of the following is a type of random sampling?
A) Intensity
B) Criterion
C) Systematic
D) Snowball

Accepted Answer

Systematic sampling involves selecting every kth element from a population. This is a type of random sampling because each element has an equal chance of being selected, and the selection is not influenced by the researcher's bias or preferences. Option A) Intensity and B) Criterion are not types of random sampling. Option D) Snowball sampling involves selecting participants who then refer other potential participants, which is not a truly random process.

Question 18

Bonnie is conducting a study on the social skills of those children who have identified speech and language needs. She selects children who have Individual Education Plans for speech and language only and not any other educational exceptionalities. Bonnie is illustrating
A) homogeneous sampling.
B) intensity sampling.
C) criterion sampling.
D) snowball sampling.

Accepted Answer

Criterion sampling is used by Bonnie because she selects participants based on a specific criterion: children with Individual Education Plans for speech and language needs only.

Question 19

A large marketing firm has decided to do a study that describes the needs of practicing teachers regarding instructional materials. The vice-president wants data from 400 practicing teachers. Shawna, a researcher with the firm, sends a mass mailing and when 400 surveys are returned she analyzes the data. Shawna is best illustrating which sampling strategy?
A) Cluster sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Purposive sampling
D) Convenience sampling

Accepted Answer

The answer of A large marketing firm has decided to...

Question 20

Derrick is conducting a stratified sampling procedure. His target sample is 250 from a population of 489 high school algebra students within a particular district. He wants to ensure he has the appropriate representation of students from at each ability level. Next he will
A) identify and define the population.
B) determine desired sample size.
C) classify all members of the population as members of the subgroups.
D) randomly select an appropriate number of individuals to represent the subgroups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Derrick is conducting a stratified sampling procedure....

Quiz 5: Selecting a Sample

The group that the researcher would ideally like to generalize findings to is referred to as

The first step in probability sampling is to

Some researchers have complained that most of the research that has been conducted with the benefits of animation for student learning has been done on college students enrolled in introductory courses at large research institutions. Assuming this is true what does this problem illustrate?

Sophia needs to conduct a survey for the Alumni Association. She takes the list of all the alumni and calls every 10th name on the list. Sophia is best illustrating

In simple random sampling, after the researcher has determined the desired sample size, the next step is to

The college Dean asked Meg to conduct a study to survey one half of the college students regarding their opinions of change in course offerings. Which nonrandom sampling approach is Meg likely to use?

Participants identified as those from whom to seek information is the definition of

Ken randomly selected 75 students to participate in his study and then randomly assigned them to one of three conditions. When he examined his groups he found he had very unequal gender by condition. Ken's samples illustrate

If all participants in a given sample have an equal and independent chance of being selected for a study it is said that the sample has been selected

Which of the following is a type of random sampling?

Bonnie is conducting a study on the social skills of those children who have identified speech and language needs. She selects children who have Individual Education Plans for speech and language only and not any other educational exceptionalities. Bonnie is illustrating

Derrick is conducting a stratified sampling procedure. His target sample is 250 from a population of 489 high school algebra students within a particular district. He wants to ensure he has the appropriate representation of students from at each ability level. Next he will

Sophia needs to conduct a survey for the Alumni Association. She takes the list of all the alumni and calls every 10^th name on the list. Sophia is best illustrating