A brief introduction to sampling ... with bears ... for trainee counsellors on their research methods module

1. Counselling Research
Sampling
FdA and BA (Hons) Counselling with Brief
Interventions

2. Aims
By the end of this session you will be able to:
• Explain what sampling means
• Identify the difference between probability
and non-probability sampling
• Identify a sampling method appropriate for
your project

3. Why?

4. Here’s Why …
A credible and appropriate sampling strategy
will strengthen your research methodology
Communicating a critical awareness of sampling
when writing your project or dissertation will
add gravitas to your work.

5. What is Sampling?
It’s too expensive to conduct research on a large
population …
So we conduct research on a sample of that
population …

8. How we choose our sample can
be important, depending on
the type of research we are
undertaking …

9. Sampling in Quantitative Research
• I want to generalise my
findings
• I want the research to
be repeatable
• I want to remove
subjectivity and bias
• It’s important that the
sample is
representative

10. Sampling in Qualitative Research
• I want to focus on
individual stories
and subjective
experience
• I am interested in
context and themes
• I am interested in
‘saturation’

11. Types of Sampling
In probability sampling we know what the likelihood is of each subject being chosen

12. Types of Sampling
NonProbability
Sample
Convenience
Snowball
Quota

14. Probability Sampling #1
Random Sample
1. Get a list (the sampling frame)
2. Generate random numbers
3. Select one person per random number

15. Probability Sampling #2
Systematic Random Sample
1. Select a number e.g. 5
2. Get a list (the sampling frame)
3. Select every e.g. 5th person on the list

16. Probability Sampling #3
Stratified Random Sample
1. Your population is separated into groups
2. Do a random or a systematic random sample
for each of those groups

18. Non-probability Sampling #1
The Convenience Sample
Choose participants that are handy
Purposive sampling
The researcher chooses participants based on
whether he or she thinks they will be
appropriate for the study

19. Non-probability Sampling #2
The Snowball Sample
Ask participants to refer you to more
participants

20. Non-probability Sampling #3
Quota Sampling
1. Determine what the population is like
according to specific qualities
2. Determine quotas for each quality
3. Select people to fulfil each quota

22. Sampling and Your Research
Consider the sampling method you are going to
use:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What would be appropriate?
What would add credibility to your research?
What fits with your methodology?
What is do-able?

23. Conclusions
1. Consider how you are choosing your
participants
2. Write about your sampling strategy in your
methodology
3. Provide a rationale for your approach
4. Demonstrate an understanding of sampling
and how it applies to your research