Distinguish between a representative sample and a random sample and explain why sampling is an integral part of quantitative research
What will be an ideal response?
When collecting and analyzing data, sociologists must decide which
population— persons about whom we want to be able to draw conclusions—
will be observed or questioned. Then it is necessary to select a sample of
people from the larger population to be studied. It is important that the sample
accurately represent the larger population. For example, if you arbitrarily
selected five students from your sociology class to interview, they probably
would not be representative of your school's total student body. However, if
you selected five students from the total student body by a random sample,
they might be closer to being representative. In random sampling, every
member of an entire population being studied has the same chance of being
selected. For example, you would have a more representative sample of the
total student body if you placed all the students' names in a rotating drum and
conducted a drawing.
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a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false
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