RANDOM SAMPLING

 The certain branch of mathematics which is concerned with the collection and interpretation of numerical data collected from the samples is called 'Statistics'.

According to Ciccarelli, "A sample is a group of subjects selected from a larger population of subjects, usually selected randomly....."

Blalock in 1960, has categorized sampling into two methods: Probability Sampling Methods and Nonprobability Sampling Methods.

Firstly, Probability Sampling Method determines the probable chance of inclusion of every unit or individual within the sample.

Secondly, Nonprobability Sampling Method is that method which is unable to provide us with knowledge of probable chance of an unit or individual's inclusion within the sample.

RANDOM SAMPLING:

The core of Behavioral Science Experimentation is 'Predict and Control'. Predicting all the factors that will act as variables and manipulating or controlling them in the hope of eliciting the perfect responses as the outcome of the experiment is the 'ideal' condition. But, this surreal situation is hard to reach, as knowing all the variables is impossible and controlling them is more inhuman.

The concept of Randomization works as a boon to this situation. When all the units or individual of a certain Universe or Population has equal and independent chance of being selected, the varied characteristics are included within the sample, which counterbalances in the long run.

So, the concept of randomness is at the center of the new era behavioral science research.

SAMPLING WITH AND WITHOUT REPLACEMENT:

Suppose we are conducting sampling with the fish bowl method. There are total 100 pieces of paper within the bowl. The chance of the 1st person to get selected is 1/100th . If we remove the piece of paper and choose the 2nd person - the chance of his selection becomes 1/99th.

a) Selection of unit or individual from the source without returning the slip is sampling without replacement.

b) Selection of unit or individual from the source returning the slips every time they were taken out, is sampling with replacement.

It can be concluded that sampling is fetching a portion of the universe or population as a representative of the same. And, Random Sampling is simply selection of this portion in such a fashion so that every individual has an equal and autonomous chance to be a part of the sample. 

REFERENCES:

Kerlinger, F. N., & Lee, H. B. (1986). Foundations of behavioral research, Fort Worth. TX: Holt, Rinehart, Winston.

Quinton, S. (2015). Saundra K. Ciccarelli and J. Noland White, Psychology (/Global Edition).

Singh, A. K. (2015). Tests, measurements and research methods in behavioural sciences. Bharati Bhawan.

AN INTRODUCTION TO SAMPLING

 The researches in the field of behavioral sciences are either experimental or non-experimental and aims to draw inferences about certain specific and prominent group by conducting applicable form of measurements. These 'specific' and 'prominent' groups are termed as 'POPULATION'. Therefore, a population can be defined as any distinguished and clearly defined or described group of individuals. For example; "all college students", "all parents" etc.

Population can be segregated into two types -

FINITE POPULATION: The group whose members are easily countable.

INFINITE POPULATION: The group whose size is large, so the total number of members are uncountable.

In case of performing researches, the researchers reach to the conclusions often relying on a smaller 'experience' or SAMPLE. They take a relatively small sample of the population or universe they want to draw the inference upon.

So ,"Sampling is taking any portion of a population or universe, as representative of that population or universe". (Kerlinger; 1964)

According to Kothari and Garg, "Sampling is defined as the selection of some part of an aggregate or totality on the basis of which a judgement or inference about the aggregate or totality is made".

In other words, sampling is simply gathering information about a distinguished and well-defined group by only studying a portion of it.

Thus, a sample is a representation of all characteristics of a population. The selection method of the sampling technique is called SAMPLE DESIGN.

PURPOSES OF SAMPLING: 

◘ Sampling is economical in nature, as it gives a speedy result within lesser time and involving lesser resources.

◘ In case of infinite population, sampling is inevitable.

◘ The method of sampling helps in gathering facts about the nature of the target population.

◘ Sampling designs provide accurate measurements.

TYPES OF SAMPLING: 

REFERENCES:

Kerlinger, F. N. (1966). Foundations of behavioral research. 

Kothari, C., & Garg, G. (2014). Research Methodology: Methods and Strategy. New age international.

Singh, A. K. (2015). Tests, measurements and research methods in behavioural sciences. Bharati Bhawan.

 

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH TRADITIONS

 COMPARING QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH TRADITIONS

'Worldview' , 'Paradigm', 'epistemologies and ontologies', or 'broadly conceived research methodologies' - are quite synonymously used in the field of research. The researcher depending on his field of study and past experiences acquired through researches choose one of the worldview or paradigms to conduct his work. The four most widely used research methodologies are - post-positivism, constructivism, transformative and pragmatism.

Logical - positivism and Phenomenological inquiry are the two prominent research methodologies or paradigms. The former one is the scientific one, most used as it includes statistical analysis and scientific assessment, referred to as Quantitative research method. The other one is more focused on detailed interpretation of phenomena, or qualitative analysis.

The Post-positivism or the so called 'scientific method' uses the technique experimentation to test the hypotheses and involves elementary manipulation, controlling of variables and statistical analysis to claim the knowledge while studying living organism's behavior. This research method is widely summoned as 'Quantitative method'. The Quantitative method is more based on a universal cause-effect relation which makes it more goal oriented, conceptual and includes proper design. This research paradigm involves prediction, hypotheses testing, statistical analysis and involves standardized tests.

The 'Social Construction of Reality' (Berger and Luckmann; 1967) and Guba's (1985) 'Naturalistic Inquiry' are ideas behind the next paradigm. Social-constructivism or Phenomenological inquiry approaches towards Qualitative research method. The main emphasis here, is to gain 'as much as' knowledge about the participant's view-point of the situation. Whereas, in Qualitative research approach there is null knowledge about things-in-themselves. It encompasses grounded theory, understanding natural behavior and observation of the target population in real life settings. This paradigm is flexible and can be altered or modified at any point of the study. Also, unstructured in nature. The open-ended questions must be framed in a way, so as to gather a clear view about the lifestyle and a broader or generalized fact.

In case of Quantitative research, the data is collected usually in laboratory setting. Whereas, in case of Qualitative research study the data is collected in natural setting, where the phenomenon has taken place and the researcher is present during data collection ensuring a good relationship with the subjects.

In Quantitative approach, the Independent variable is manipulated by the experimenter. For Qualitative approach, the Independent variable is already exposed to the subjects.

Quantitative research is done following random sampling , in case of Qualitative research it is not possible to assign samples following random sampling methods. 

To sum up all the points:

References:

Best, J. W., & Kahn, J. V. (2016). Research in education. Pearson Education India.

Creswell, J. W. (1999). Mixed-method research: Introduction and application. In Handbook of educational policy (pp. 455-472). Academic Press.