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statistics problem For each of the situations described, state whether the sampl

ID: 3301650 • Letter: S

Question

statistics problem

For each of the situations described, state whether the sampling procedure is simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, or convenience sampling. (a) All first-year students at a university axe enrolled in 1 of 30 sections of a seminar course. To select a sample of freshmen at this university, a researcher selects four sections of the seminar course at random from the 30 sections and all students in the four selected sections are included in the sample. (b) To obtain a sample of students, faculty, and staff at a university, a researcher randomly selects 50 faculty members from a list of faculty, 100 students from a list of students, and 30 staff members from a list of staff. (c) A university researcher obtains a sample of students at his university by using the 85 students enrolled in his Psychology 101 class. (d) To obtain a sample of the seniors at a particular high school, a researcher writes the name of each senior on a slip of paper, places the slips in a box and mixes them, and then selects 10 slips. The students whose names are on the selected slips of paper are included in the sample. (e) To obtain a sample of those attending a basketball game, a researcher selects the 24th person through the door. Then, every 50th person after that is also included in the sample.

Explanation / Answer

(a)
Cluster Sampling - Here each section of a seminar course is a cluster. Every students is assigned to one, and only one, section. The sample is all students from randomly selected 4 sections.
So, a sample of clusters is chosen, using a probability method (often simple random sampling). Only individuals within sampled clusters are surveyed. So, this is the case of cluster sampling.


(b)
Stratified sampling - The population is divided into groups - Students, faculty and staff. Then, within each group, a probability sample (often a simple random sample) is selected. In stratified sampling, the groups are called strata.
So, this is the case of Stratified sampling where the strata are Students, faculty and staff.

(c)
A convenience sample is made up of people who are easy to reach. Here the researcher obtains a sample of students from his Psychology 101 class based on his convinience.
So, this is the case of convinience sampling.

(d)
If all possible samples of objects are equally likely to occur, the sampling method is called simple random sampling.
Here each senior students name are equally likely to occur from the slips in the box. So, this is the case of Simple random sampling.

(e)
Systematic sampling is a type of probability sampling method in which sample members from a larger population are selected according to a random starting point and a fixed periodic interval.
Here the starting point is 24th person through the door and the sampling interval is 50. So, this is the case of systematic sampling.