Researchers try to use a truly representative sample of the population of people

Question

Researchers try to use a truly representative sample of the population of people in whom they are interested --- one of the main reasons for using random selection. Even so, the sample is usually selected from within a particular segment of the social world in which the researchers themselves live and work. For example, in the United States there are some fairly distinct differences between people form the northeast and people from the southeast, and the same can be true in many other countries. There are also differences between urban and rural areas. If a psychologist is conducting a study in a particular geographical area of a country, how might regional differences impact the study's results? What measures could or should the psychologist take to minimize the impact?

Explanation / Answer

The researcher can use the method of stratified sampling. This is used when the popuation varies. When the population embraces of no. distinct categories, the frame can be organized by these categories into seperate 'strata'. The psychologist can select one from each geographical region, these geographical regions are stratas, and then among those stratas sub stratas such as urban and rural areas. This can some how minimize the impact of the differences. But one of the major disadvantage is that it increases sampling cost and the complexity of sample selection

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