Sampling in Survey Research - a discussion agenda

Based on Bryman and Bell (2011), I provide an agenda to examin the topic of Sampling in Survey Research:

1. Main modes of survey administration: (i) structured interviews and (ii) self-completed questionnaires (note: refer to Figure 7.2 in Bryman and Bell (2011, pg. 175)
2. Types of probability sampling:
• simple random sampling
• systematic sampling
• stratefied random sampling
• multi-stage cluster sampling
3. Probability sample quality
4. Considerations on sample size
• Absolute and relative sample size
5. Other sampling considerations
• Time
• Cost
• Response rate
• Population heterogeneity
• Kind of analysis
6. Non-probability sampling types
• Convenience sampling
• Snowball sampling
• Quota sampling
7. Issues related to generalization in sampling
8. Sources of survey research errors (re: Figure 7.9 of Bryman and Bell (2011, pg. 196):
• sampling error
• sampling-related error
• Data collection error
• Data processing error

Lecture notes
Note 1

Note 2

Reference
Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2011) "Chapter 7: Sampling" Business Research Methods, Oxford University Press