CAIE A-Level Psychology Sampling of participants Question Bank
Practise describing sampling techniques, choosing participants and evaluating strengths and weaknesses of sample choices.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Psychology 9990
- Level
- AS
Exam points
- describe opportunity, random or volunteer sampling using a study-linked example
- explain a strength or weakness of the chosen sampling technique in the research plan
Sampling of participants question 1
[Maximum number: 6]
Describe opportunity sampling and random sampling, using any example(s).
Describe opportunity sampling and random sampling, using any example(s).
1 mark for each definition/point of detail, up to a maximum of 2 for each term/concept.
1 mark for each example, max 2 for each term/concept. Examples can include examples from any studies (core studies, other studies, candidate's own studies).
Max 4 if no examples or if only about one term/concept. Only 1 example needed to access 6 marks.
Definition of 'sampling technique'=1 MAX
Opportunity sampling:
- Using participants who are available at the time; (description)
- Passers-by/students in the researcher's class; (detail)
- Baron-Cohen et al. found participants in adult community education class (in Exeter)/(public) library (in Cambridge); (detail)
- Saavedra & Silverman child (& mother) in treatment (at Florida International University); (detail)
- Piliavin et al. subway passengers; (detail)
Random sampling:
- Each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected;
- getting a numbered list of people/your target population (1) and putting the numbers in a hat and drawing the number required / using a random number generator to select the sample size required; (1) (= 2 for detailed example here)
- a study might use the list of all students in a school and select 30 from them (=1 for brief example)
6
No marks for evaluation e.g. more /less representative No marks for Bandura et al, Holzel et al., Perry et al. as no information on sampling in the original paper.
Pozzulo - adults volunteered for pool but not known if there were opportunity or volunteer for sample, nor about child participants.
6
Other examples
- Andrade - accept opportunity as although they had originally volunteered for a different study, they were recruited by opportunity after leaving it.
- Dement & Kleitman accept opportunity.
- Baron-Cohen used random sampling (allegedly) = 1 mark
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