Select any one of the following type of sampling methods, Cluster Sampling, Stratified Random Sampling, Simple Random Sampling and Systematic Random Sampling. provide an example of how you could use this sampling strategy to conduct a research study. What would be the strengths and weaknesses of your selected strategy in terms of external validity and sampling error?

Simple random sampling

Simple random sampling is considered to be an essential sampling strategy where the person conducting the study picks a sample of people from a larger group or population and engage them in questioning (Christensen, 2011).  Each person is selected entirely by chance and every member of the society has the equal opportunity of being added to the sample, and each possible example of a certain size has the same chance of selection. The method can be used to conduct a research study through first preparing a list of all members of the population to participate in the research study and mark each element with a given number such as (1 to N). Therefore, the n items will be picked from the population size of N and can be achieved through the application of a random number tables or random number initiator software (Christensen, 2011). However, the use of the software is preferable as the selection of random samples can be guided by software such as Research Randomizer that helps in reducing biases.

Regarding external validity, simple random sampling is capable of improving the external validity since the numbers selected to be added in the sample sections are evaluated using the probabilistic technique. The method, therefore, allows generalization from the sample to the population that is helpful to the external validity. However, the disadvantage of this technique on external validity is that; the people must be high enough to avoid excess scores that are not regulated by more moderate scores (Levy & Lemeshow, 2013). Regarding sample error, it is easier to verify any errors that might arise during the process and therefore allowing the researcher to make the necessary changes. However, the method bares broader errors that emerge from the same sample size than those found in stratified sampling hence becoming a disadvantage.

 

References

Christensen, L. B., Johnson, B., Turner, L. A., & Christensen, L. B. (2011). Research methods, design, and analysis.

Levy, P. S., & Lemeshow, S. (2013). Sampling of populations: methods and applications. John Wiley & Sons.

 

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