Survey and Sampling as the Research Methods

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Sampling
The Survey/Questionnaire
Potential Problems/Refining

Sampling

The different types of sampling are pure-random, systematic random, stratified, cluster and purposeful (also called purposive).

Pure random or systematic random

Sampling may be used to obtain a general profile of the entire AUP student body as to media habits and sources.

Stratified sampling

Deserves priority when a) the distribution of the given profile categories (nationality; gender; age/year in school; grad/undergrad; major) is uneven or significantly skewed in favour of one nationality, gender, age, year in school, etc.; and, b) there is reason to believe that one segment within a category differs significantly from the others in media habits and sources. Depending on the size of the overall sample, a pure random or systematic-random sample might under-represent, say, males, Arabs, graduate students or Medieval History majors. Stratified sampling surmounts this problem.

Cluster sampling

Might be feasible if the above-named segments of the AUP universe happened to congregate in certain housing areas around the city, in-campus housing, classroom/laboratory facilities (e.g. Taiwan Chinese in engineering and IT laboratories), reading rooms or sports facilities. When graduate students and teachers select one class to represent each year level and administer a survey to everyone in the classroom, that also qualifies as cluster sampling.

Purposeful sampling

Is more useful when doing qualitative research to gain some insights into very light or very heavy use of certain media or in motivational studies when there are only 3 or 4 students representing the segment of interest (e.g. daily readers of L’Osservatore Romano.

The Survey/Questionnaire

“Surveys” involve collecting primarily quantitative (but also qualitative) data from a target population in order to gain objective knowledge or grant empirical grounding to discourse on political, marketing, sociological, educational, psychological and other issues. The most familiar forms are the census and sample surveys.

Extracts from a Sample Questionnaire

Type	Item	Answer Grid
Closed-end	Do you take notice at all of events outside the campus?	No END INTERVIEW Yes GO TO Q2
Multiple-choice, checklist	Are you more interested in keeping up with events in (PROMPT WITH CHECKLIST)…? You can choose as many as you like.	Code LOCALITY Paris France generally The EU (If not French native) Home country (IF CHOSEN, ASK:) what is your home country? 97 ____________________
Attitude Scale	Please rate your favourite Internet portal or news page on freshest possible news, having complete news and credibility on a scale of 1 to 10, where “1” means you are completely dissatisfied and “10” stands for being completely satisfied with that Web site.	Fresh Complete Credible 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10

Strengths

Of the interview method: scope for explaining purpose of study or meaning of vague items, maximise rapport, solicit cooperation, observe/record meaningful body language and facial expressions, data analysis can be automated.

Weaknesses

Fieldwork is time-consuming, requires extensive preparation, costly.

Participant observation

Excellent validation of attitudes and behaviour of concern. Principal disadvantage is that it is even more time-consuming.

Potential Problems/Refining

Other than running out of space to show the complete flow of questionnaire items needed to fulfil the stated study aim, I anticipate no problems. Nonetheless, it is always a good idea to carry out a few pilot interviews.

Click Here To Order Now!