3. Collecting Data
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Recall all of the types of samples.
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Let's recall all of the types of samples. We will start with samples that do not require dividing population into groups.
| Type of Sample | Sample |
|---|---|
| Self-Selected Sample | Members of a population volunteer to be in the sample. |
| Systematic Sample | Members of a population are selected according to a particular rule. |
| Convenience Sample | Members of a population who are easy to reach are selected. |
Next, we have two types of samples in which we divide a population into groups.
| Type of Sample | Division Into Groups | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Stratified Sample | Each group contains people that share similar characteristics. | Members are randomly selected from each group. |
| Cluster Sample | Each group contains people randomly selected from a population. | Members in one or more of the groups — clusters — are selected. |
In a self-selected sample we have mostly people with strong opinions towards the topic, and in a convenience sample people easy to reach for us are often similar to us. This means that in both cases some parts of a population can be underrepresented. Therefore, self-selected and convenience samples are most likely to lead to biased results.