Chapter 2: Problem 1

Explain how a psychologist might select a sample for a survey.

Short Answer

Expert verified

A psychologist might select a sample for a survey by first defining the relevant population, choosing an appropriate sampling technique, determining a suitable sample size, and then conducting the actual selection according to the chosen technique.

Step by step solution

Define the Population

The researcher should clearly define the population of interest. This could be a specific group of people, such as students, parents, sufferers of a certain psychological disorder, etc. This group should be relevant to the research question and objectives.

Choose a Sampling Technique

There are various methods of sampling available, such as random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, etc. The appropriate technique depends on the nature of the population, the objectives of the study, and the resources available. For example, if the population is quite homogeneous and the researcher has access to a list of all members, simple random sampling could be a suitable choice.

Determine Sample Size

The sample size should be large enough to accurately reflect the population, but not so large as to waste resources. There are statistical tools and conventions to help determine an appropriate sample size for various study designs. Usually, the larger the population size, the smaller the proportion of the population the sample needs to represent. However, depending on the sampling technique and researcher objectives, sample size can vary.

Select the Sample

Depending on the sampling technique, the actual selection of the sample could involve randomly drawing names from a hat, selecting every 10th person on a list, or using a random number generator. For some techniques, it may involve more complex procedures, such as dividing the population into subgroups (strata) and sampling separately from each.

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Explain how a psychologist might select a sample for a survey.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define the Population

Choose a Sampling Technique

Determine Sample Size

Select the Sample

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