Deck 7: The Logic of Sampling

Question 1

A researcher who uses a list of registered voters as a sampling frame,and selects every 5^th person on the randomized list is engaging in what kind of sampling?

A)systematic
B)stratified
C)simple random
D)quota
E)multistage cluster

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A sampling interval of 5 was used to select a sample from a population of 1000.How many elements are to be in the sample?

A)5
B)50
C)100
D)200
E)1000

Answer 2

D

Question 3

After taking a random start between 1 and 20 and then taking every 20th element from the sampling frame,Smith learned that 40% of the sample believed the company's president was doing a good job.The calculated standard error was 3 percent.This means that:

A)between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job
B)you are 95% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job
C)you are 68% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job
D)you are 99% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job
E)none of these choices are correct

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Stratifying a population prior to drawing a sample:

A)generally occurs when the variables used to stratify are known to be associated with the dependent variable
B)eliminates the need for simple random sampling
C)is most useful for studying a homogeneous population
D)eliminates the need for probability sampling
E)is an alternative systematic sampling

Question 5

You are doing research on hospital personnel-orderlies,technicians,nurses,and doctors.You want to be sure you draw a sample that has cases in each of the personnel categories.You want to use probability sampling.An appropriate strategy would be:

A)simple random sampling
B)quota sampling
C)cluster sampling
D)stratified sampling
E)accidental sampling

Question 6

In general,as sample size increases:

A)the standard error increases in size
B)the standard error decreases in size
C)the standard error will remain the same regardless of changes in sample size
D)the standard error is a constant
E)the standard error fluctuates in size

Question 7

Dr.Chang is conducting a research study of undergraduate students at her college.She wants to ensure an equal number of students from each grade level,so she uses the list of all students provided by the registrar's office.From each list,she randomly selects 50 students from each group.What strategy of sampling is Dr.Chang using?

A)simple random sampling
B)quota sampling
C)cluster sampling
D)stratified sampling
E)accidental sampling

Question 8

Dr.Smith is instructing his graduate students to put together a sample for an upcoming research study of college students.The graduate students were asked to stand outside of the student union to solicit participants,finding 50 freshmen,50 sophomore,50 juniors,and 50 seniors.What sort of sampling method is being used?

A)simple random sampling
B)quota sampling
C)cluster sampling
D)stratified sampling
E)accidental sampling

Question 9

A summary description of a given variable in a survey sample is called a:

A)variable
B)parameter
C)confidence level
D)confidence interval
E)statistic

Question 10

According to probability theory which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)68% of the samples will fall within about plus or minus one standard error of the population parameter
B)95% of the samples will fall within about plus or minus two standard errors of the true value
C)99.9% of the samples will fall within about plus or minus three standard errors of the parameter
D)34% of the samples will fall within about plus or minus one standard error of the parameter
E)75% of the samples will fall within about plus or minus one standard error of the population parameter

Question 11

Probability samples are advantageous to the researcher because:

A)the method by which they are selected limits conscious and unconscious sampling bias
B)the accuracy or representativeness of the sample can be estimated
C)they are perfectly representative of the population from which they are drawn
D)all of these choices indicate the advantages of probability sampling
E)the method by which they are selected limits conscious and unconscious sampling bias and the accuracy or representativeness of the sample can be estimated

Question 12

Nonprobability sampling:

A)always produces samples that possess distorted characteristics relative to the population
B)denies the researcher the use of statistical theory to estimate the probability of correct inferences
C)should never be used under any circumstances
D)includes stratified sampling
E)requires the use of sampling frames

Question 13

You want to examine the relationship between family size and family cohesion.You use as your sample all the students in your research methods class.What kind of sampling design are you using?

A)Simple random sampling
B)Quota sampling
C)Cluster sampling
D)Stratified sampling
E)Reliance on available subjects

Question 14

The chief aim of probability sampling is to be able to select:

A)simple random samples
B)a sample whose statistics will accurately portray an unknown population parameter
C)a sample whose parameters will accurately portray an unknown population statistic
D)a sample whose statistics will accurately portray a known population parameter
E)a sample whose unknown statistics will accurately portray a known parameter

Question 15

Drawing a judgmental sample:

A)allows researchers to use their prior knowledge about the population
B)enlists the aid of uninformed respondents
C)results in a sample that has no researcher bias
D)ensures a representative sample
E)requires the development of a quota matrix

Question 16

To ensure a sufficient number of cases from strata of varying sizes,researchers use:

A)simple random sampling
B)systematic sampling
C)proportionate sampling
D)disproportionate sampling
E)quota sampling

Question 17

Every kth element in a list is chosen for inclusion in the sample in:

A)simple random sampling
B)systematic sampling
C)disproportionate sampling
D)cluster sampling
E)stratified sampling

Question 18

The unit about which information is collected and that provides the basis of analysis is called a(n):

A)universe
B)sampling unit
C)statistic
D)sampling frame
E)element

Question 19

Disproportionate sampling and weighting are used by the researcher:

A)to ensure a sufficient number of cases in each of the sample subpopulations
B)to give a proportionate representation to each sample element
C)to provide a representative picture of the total population
D)to handle situations involving the errors and approximation that are often inherent in complex,multistage designs
E)all of these choices are correct

Question 20

In terms of probability theory,the standard error is valuable because:

A)it is an estimate of the parameter
B)it permits us to estimate the degree of error to be expected in a sample design
C)it indicates the extent to which the sample estimates will be distributed around the population parameter
D)it is an estimate of the parameter and it permits us to estimate the degree of error to be expected in a sample design
E)it permits us to estimate the degree of error to be expected in a sample design and it indicates the extent to which the sample estimates will be distributed around the population parameter

Question 21

Stratification represents a modification to rather than an alternative to simple random sampling and systematic sampling.

Question 22

Sampling error is reduced through an increase in the sample size and an increased homogeneity of the elements being sampled.

Question 23

A study population is:

A)the theoretical and hypothetical aggregation of all elements as defined for a given survey
B)the theoretically specified aggregation of survey elements
C)that aggregation of elements from which the sample is actually selected
D)that aggregation or set of elements considered for selection in some stage of sampling
E)that aggregation of elements from which information is collected

Question 24

If possible,always sampling from the entire general population is preferable.

Question 25

Snowball sampling would be an effective strategy for a researcher to use if a researcher was interested in studying a population of gang members.

Question 26

In a sample stratified by gender,the sampling error on this variable is reduced to zero.

Question 27

If a field researcher wanted to learn a political organization's pattern of recruitment over time,the researcher might begin by interviewing a fairly recent recruit and ask who introduced that person to the organization.Then the researcher might interview the person named and ask who introduced that person to the political organization.This would be an example of:

A)snowball sampling
B)systematic sampling
C)deviant cases sampling
D)accidental sampling
E)quota sampling

Question 28

A confidence interval at the 68% confidence level will be larger than one constructed at the 95% confidence level.

Question 29

A disadvantage of stratified sampling is that it:

A)denies you the use of probability theory
B)requires you to have some prior knowledge about the elements in the population prior to drawing the sample
C)usually increases the standard error
D)usually requires samples that are larger in size than those required by simple random sampling
E)none of these choices is a disadvantage of stratified sampling

Question 30

Each stage in cluster sampling adds additional sampling error that must be taken into account.

Question 31

Professor Hall was planning to do a field study of hitchhikers.Hall wanted to be sure that persons representing all different age,racial,and sex categories were included in the sample of hitchhikers.What kind of sampling scheme would you recommend?

A)Deviant cases
B)Quota sampling
C)Stratified sampling
D)Snowball sampling
E)Cluster sampling

Question 32

Field researchers are often interested in studying deviant cases in order to improve their understanding of the more typical pattern.

Question 33

Statistical computations assume that you have done:

A)simple random sampling
B)systematic sampling
C)cluster sampling
D)stratified sampling
E)any one of these choices are assumed in statistical computations