Sampling and Data Collection - Assignment Example

Sampling and data collection March 12, Sampling and data collection Sampling and data collection are some of the steps in an empirical research. Sampling involves development of a fraction of the target population for use in the study and involves different strategies and steps.Probability sampling and a suitable research problem for probability samplingProbability sampling is a sampling approach in which the chance of selecting a research participant from a target population is known (Votg, 2007).

The chance may be equal for all members of a population such as in the case of a simple random sampling, or may be designed to vary across segments of a target population, such as in the case of stratified random sampling (Sekaran and Bougie, 2010). A research problem where probability sampling is appropriate is in a study of effects of brand modification on a product’s popularity. The research problem targets a diversified population by such factors as age, income, levels of education, and area of residence.

Significance of sub-populations, within the factors, may further vary and a representative sample that also factors relative significance of the sub-populations requires a stratified random sampling approach. The population is in the case divided into the subgroups and each group allocated a probability of sampling a participant. Random sampling and random assignmentRandom sampling is a method of obtaining a sample, based on unrestricted probability sampling approach, while random selection is an approach to allocating sampled research participants to different groups in a study (Black, 1999; Christensen, Johnson, and Turner, 2011).

Random assignment is important in experimental research situations in which participants are to be assigned to treatment and control groups. ReferencesBlack, T. R. (1999). Doing quantitative research in the social sciences: An integrated approach to research design, measurement and statistics. London, UK: Sage Publications.Christensen, L. B., Johnson, R. B., & Turner, L. A. (2011). Research methods, design, and analysis (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R. (2010). Research methods for business: A skill building approach (5th Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Vogt, W. P. (2007). Quantitative research methods for professionals.

Boston, MA: Pearson.