Running head: SAMPLING METHODS

Sampling Methods

Student’s Name

University Affiliation
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To study a population, the sample used has to sufficiently represent the whole population.

Due to the exploratory nature of the case provided, it is cheaper, convenient, and useful for the

research and hypothesis generation. The eligibility for using non-probability sampling allows a

researcher to sample an entire population without a sampling frame; therefore, some of the

population has no chance to be selected. The availability and willingness of the selected sample

– a close circle of social networking sites to represent billions of people who have access to

social media conclude the sampling method as non-probability convenience sampling.

The method of sampling used has its advantages such as cost efficient, easy to access data

from the individuals, and time efficient (Goddard & Melville, 2011). For this research, the target

population is large and developing a sampling frame may be difficult hence the efficiency of

convenience sampling to represent billions of people. For this method, the researcher must

consider volunteer risk bias. The relative ease and willingness to provide information by friends

may not represent the position of the general population. This is based on the idea that most of

the people who volunteer to take part in studies do not represent the whole population.

References

Goddard, W., & Melville, S. (2011). Research methodology, Kenwyn, South Africa: Juta & Co.
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