Explain the differences between probability and nonprobability sampling.

Discussion Assignment

To support your work, use your course and text readings, and outside sources. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

Probability and Nonprobability Sampling

In this assignment, you will research about probability and nonprobability samples.Using the Internet, research the following:

• Qualitative research in psychology
• Probability and nonprobability samples
• Principles of sampling distribution
• Random samples

Consider the following example.

Some researchers wanted to find out which of the two candidates in the election for a mayor were more favored by voters. This would mean defining all eligible voters or creating a systematic sample by taking from the voter registration roster, starting from a randomly selected name, and contacting every 500th person. It could even involve a better procedure of using a computer to randomly select telephone numbers and then interview registered voters from them, which means only those registered voters with a telephone would be included in the sample.Other researchers would cite the voting preferences of their own friends and acquaintances or might interview shoppers at a local mall. They could even publish telephone numbers in the local newspaper and ask the readers to call and ‘vote’ for one candidate. The important thing about these methods is that they would exclude some members of the population like those who do not know the researchers, do not go to shopping malls or perhaps do not read newspapers. Hence this type of sampling cannot be generalized to the population of city voters.

Based on the example and your research, complete the following discussions:

• Explain the differences between probability and nonprobability sampling.
• Explain the principles of sampling distribution and normal curve in understanding the logic of sampling. How are these each used in research?
• Samples are best when they allow the researcher to produce accurate generalizations about the population from the features of the sample. The goal of a qualitative researcher, as opposed to the quantitative researcher, is not to obtain representative samples but to use a small number of cases to illuminate an aspect of social life more fully. Explain how and why do research samples work.
• Explain how the appropriate sample size for use in research can be determined.
• Explain what a random sample is and how you would determine if you should use it in your scientific research.

1. Cite all sources in APA format.
2. Attach a Turnitin.com Report.