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Sampling And Demographic Study

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Sampling is extremely useful in all applications of sociological study; essentially, it would be impossible to study the entire population, and sampling allows us to generalize the large population while only analyzing a small group. While trying to analyze a given population by means of a smaller, representative population, it is important to consider that the best way to sample varies greatly depending on the goals, budget, and intentions of the project. The two major methods of study are qualitative and quantitative, and the two main facets of sampling are probability and non-probability. Probably sampling is primarily used in quantitative studies, and non-probability sampling is mainly used in qualitative studies. Qualitative studies often …show more content…

For this reason, various methods of probability sampling are often more favorable in this realm. There are flaws that can apply to both probability (random) and non-probability (non-random) sampling, which include but are not limited to a participatory group that does not resemble the population, or an audience that has been formed with bias. Either way, these constructed or random participant groups can make for a study which is inaccurate at best. It is necessary for there to be a number of sampling techniques in order to halt situations like this from occurring, as the best option can be selected based on the which appears to be the most applicable to a given study. For example, cluster sampling would be appropriate for a study that seeks to learn about individuals within their social group, whereas it would not be so applicable while attempting to understand a drug addict’s relationship to the entire world. Snowball sampling can be useful in producing a large observable group, but it does provide for a situation which may not lend itself well to progression; not everyone who is willing to participate has friends who are also willing to participate, so such a large reliance on the participants to work with the study means that it may not produce significant results. With this in mind, it is important to consider which option is going to provide the most panoramic and least-biased method of observation when it comes to creating a sociological

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