Chapter 5: Sampling

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Conclusions drawn about a population based on evidence and reasoning derived from a sample are called ______.

a. fallacies

b. inferences

c. bias

d. generalizability

2. A numeric summary of an element about a population, like the victimization rate, is known as the ______.

a. partial enumeration

b. sample statistic

c. population parameter

d. inference

3. ______ are summaries of data describing a sample.

a. Sample intervals

b. Sample statistics

c. Sample elements

d. Sample frames

4. Selecting a subset of elements from the larger population is a process called ______.

a. periodicity

b. strata

c. inference

d. sampling

5. The aggregated collection of elements of a complete collective is known as a ______.

a. bias

b. population

c. census

d. sample

6. The aggregated individual parts that make up populations are called ______.

a. biases

b. samples

c. elements

d. inferences

7. Cuevas’ research focused on which of the following populations?

a. Latino teens

b. disadvantaged male youth

c. criminal victimizations

d. high school truancies

8. The gathering of data from a collective that includes every element in a population is called a ______.

a. bias

b. sample

c. population

d. census

9. Another term for census is ______.

a. population parameter

b. groups

c. clusters

d. full enumeration

10. A ______ sample accurately represents or reflects the population sampled.

a. stratified

b. representative

c. snowball

d. reputational

11. Being able to use the findings from samples to make statements about the general population is called ______.

a. probability

b. periodicity

c. availability

d. generalizability

12. A ______ describes a sample that fails to include certain types of individuals or groups that are part of the population.

a. bias

b. cluster

c. inference

d. strata

13. In Dodge’s research, the unit of analysis was ______.

a. ex-convicts

b. police women

c. domestic violence victims

d. gang members

14. The most common unit of analysis used in criminology and criminal justice research is ______.

a. geographic area

b. groups and organizations

c. the individual

d. social artifacts

15. Parole officers are an example of which of the following units of analysis?

a. the individual

b. groups and organizations

c. social artifacts

d. interaction

16. Police departments are an example of which of the following units of analysis?

a. interactions

b. groups and organizations

c. social artifacts

d. the individual

17. In Zaykowski’s research, the unit of analysis was victimization, and the unit of observation was the ______.

a. individual

b. group or organization

c. social artifact

d. interaction

18. A researcher demonstrating an ecological fallacy is applying conclusions about a group or organization to ______.

a. geographic regions

b. individuals

c. social artifacts

d. interactions

19. A researcher demonstrating an individualist fallacy is applying conclusions about an individual unit of analysis to a(n) ______.

a. geographic region

b. interaction

c. social artifact

d. group or organization

20. Individualist fallacy is also called ______.

a. reductionism

b. periodicity

c. enumeration

d. generalizability

21. Believing that all the students at a university have high IQ because five students surveyed have high IQs is called ______.

a. bias

b. sampling error

c. reductionism

d. ecological fallacy

22. If a sample is selected through a process in which every population element has a known, non-zero chance of being selected, the process is called ______.

a. non-probability sampling

b. probability sampling

c. sampling frame

d. sampling elements

23. A comprehensive list that includes all elements of the population is referred to as a ______.

a. sampling interval

b. sampling element

c. sampling error

d. sampling frame

24. The following terms are types of probability sampling EXCEPT ______.

a. systematic sampling

b. multistage sampling

c. cluster sampling

d. snowball sampling

25. The following are types of non-probability sampling EXCEPT ______.

a. haphazard sampling

b. snowball sampling

c. simple random sampling

d. judgmental sampling

26. When each element in the population has a known, and equal probability of being selected into a sample, this type of probability sampling is called ______.

a. simple random sampling

b. systematic sampling

c. stratified sampling

d. cluster sampling

27. A ______ is the distance between each selected sampling element.

a. sampling element

b. sampling bias

c. sampling error

d. sampling interval

28. Periodicity is a potential issue when using which of the following types of sampling approaches?

a. simple random sampling

b. stratified sampling

c. systematic sampling

d. cluster sampling

29. ______ is a sampling approach where the sampling frame is first divided into mutually exclusive and exhaustive sub-groups that are meaningful to the research, and then the subgroups are randomly sampled.

a. Simple random sampling

b. Cluster sampling

c. Stratified sampling

d. Systematic sampling

30. Subdivisions or subgroups of the sampling frame created in stratified sampling are called ______.

a. bias

b. clusters

c. elements

d. strata

31. A sampling element containing one or more of the desired sources of data is called ______.

a. cluster

b. strata

c. element

d. group

32. Which of the following probability sampling approaches is identified as easy to use?

a. cluster sampling

b. systematic sampling

c. stratified sampling

d. multistage sampling

33. Availability sampling, accidental sampling, and haphazard sampling is also called ______.

a. purposive sampling

b. convenience sampling

c. snowball sampling

d. quota sampling

34. Gathering cases for a sample based on the specific characteristics they possess is a non-probability sampling approach called ______.

a. haphazard sampling

b. purposive sampling

c. quota sampling

d. snowball sampling

35. When a non-probability sample, or a sample based only on a particular characteristic of the case, is selected, it is called ______.

a. haphazard sampling

b. purposive sampling

c. quota sampling

d. snowball sampling

36. The greatest expected difference between a sample statistic and a population parameter is known as ______.

a. margin of error

b. sample frame

c. generalizability

d. inferences

37. When no new data can be gathered from new research subjects, this is called ______.

a. enumeration

b. periodicity

c. saturation

d. replication

38. A reasonable margin of error for research on opinions or topics when all study participants provide data is ______.

a. between +/-2.4% and +/- 3.3%

b. between +/-2.2% and +/- 3.1%

c. between +/-2.4% and +/- 3.5%

d. between +/-2.5% and +/- 3%

39. The most common question about sampling is ______.

a. what to sample

b. how large the sample should be

c. what sampling approach to use

d. whether to use a census or a sample

40. Researches who utilize a ______ approach need a small sample size to achieve a small margin of error.

a. simple random sampling

b. snowball sampling

c. multistage sampling

d. cluster sampling

41. A sample size of ______ will provide findings with minimal error.

a. 1,000

b. 1,200

c. 1,400

d. 1,600

42. Dodge’s sample consisted of 25 subjects and the search for more was stopped due to ______.

a. replication

b. bias

c. sampling error

d. saturation

43. Having ______ is an indicator that replication of the research should not produce any additional results.

a. generalizability

b. periodicity

c. bias

d. saturation

44. Brunson’s sample for his study on youth perceptions and interactions with police in disadvantaged neighborhoods reached saturation at how many subjects?

a. 25

b. 35

c. 40

d. 45

45. The first most important quality of a sample is ______ data are collected, and the second is the sample size.

a. where

b. how

c. when

d. why

1. Sampling is pivotal stage of research that can determine the success or failure of a well-designed research project.

2. Sampling allows researchers to understand something about the larger population.

3. The average number of children in a household is an example of a sample statistic.

4. Another term for sampling is partial enumeration.

5. A goal of research is to gain an understanding of or answer a question about a population.

6. Sampling subsets of populations is normally too costly of a methodology to use.

7. A major advantage of using census data is that it provides comprehensive data about a population.

8. Gathering data from a census is a relatively quick process, compared to using samples.

9. Very desirable qualities of research projects are representativeness and generalizability.

10. A perfectly representative sample is relatively simple to gather.

11. Sample size and sampling error are inversely proportional.

12. A unit of analysis is the unit from which data are collected to answer a research question.

13. Utilizing a group or organization unit of analysis in one’s research does not inform about the people in those groups or the location of those groups.

14. Units of analyses that are geographic units can include city blocks, census tracks, cities, counties, states, or countries.

15. Researchers can utilize census data when using geographic region as a unit of analysis.

16. Social interactions include tangible products such as opinion pieces in newspapers, books, movies, commercials, or social media posts.

17. The units of analysis do not necessarily have to be the same thing as the units of observation.

18. The individualist fallacy is an error in reasoning that occurs when a researcher applies conclusions related to a group or organization to an individual.

19. The reductionist fallacy involves ascribing to the group the characteristics of an individual.

20. Logical errors can be prevented when researchers understand units of analysis.

21. Probability sampling approaches are mutually exclusive and cannot be used in combination with other approaches.

22. Clusters have many forms including states, cities, universities, and schools.

23. The sample size needed for a particular margin of error is dependent on the population size.

24. Probability sampling methods typically require larger sample sizes than non-probability methods.

25. Repeating a piece of research is called replication.

1. How are population parameters estimated?

2. What is partial enumeration?

3. What is the purpose of a census?

4. What is a sampling error? What are some of the problems in research caused by sampling errors?

5. Discuss the various ways that sampling errors can be avoided.

6. What are the different categories of units of analysis in criminology and criminal justice research and how are they utilized for answering the research question?

7. Identify the two types of reasoning errors that are associated with units of analysis.

8. What is random digit dialing?

9. Identify and discuss the two major approaches to sampling.

10. What is the formula utilized for margin of error in research?

1. Why is sampling important in research?

2. What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of utilizing censuses and samples? Which method would you choose in order to gather data, represent your sample, and analyze?

3. Compare and contrast units of analysis with units of observation. You may use some of the examples in the text to illustrate the concepts.

4. What are ecological and individualist fallacies and what can be done to help prevent them? What are the pitfalls of making these errors when conducting and analyzing research?

5. After having read Chapter 5, you should have a comprehensive understanding of sampling and its various approaches. Choose a population that you would like to sample and identify the sampling approach that you would utilize for that population. You may utilize the research question, conceptual definitions, and variables that you established in previous chapters to further illustrate the process of research methods.