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Chapter_8 Sampling
True / False
1. Sampling is often used when it is not possible to collect information from all persons you want to study and when it is
not necessary to collect information from all persons.
a. True
b. False
2. The goal of sampling is to reduce potential biases.
a. True
b. False
3. Nonprobability sampling cannot be used in criminal justice research.
a. True
b. False
4. When using probability sampling, researchers generalize from observed cases to unobserved ones.
a. True
b. False
5. A good way to avoid sampling bias in the assessment of public opinion about a specific criminal justice topic is to
employ the use of a radio call-in show since those who call radio talk shows represent everyone in the population.
a. True
b. False
Chapter_8 Sampling
6. A list of all elements in a population is referred to as the sampling frame.
a. True
b. False
7. Random selection permits the researcher to link findings from a sample to the body of probability theory in order to
estimate the accuracy of those findings.
a. True
b. False
8. Stratified sampling results in a greater degree of representativeness but at the same time increases the probable
sampling error.
a. True
b. False
9. Cluster sampling is a very efficient tool, but the efficiency means a less accurate sample since with each cluster
there is a chance for sampling error.
a. True
b. False
10. When no reasonable sampling frame exists and a probability sample cannot be drawn, at least estimates about the
sample accuracy are available through nonprobability samples.
a. True
b. False
Chapter_8 Sampling
Multiple Choice
11. Sampling is the process of:
a. selecting observations
b. determining values
c. hypothesis testing
d. generating data
12. Sampling is used for two reasons, sometimes it is not necessary to collect data from all persons and it:
a. is possible to collect data from all persons
b. is statistically significant
c. is often not possible to collect information from all persons
d. makes research more valid
13. When a research chooses a sample that is not typical of a large population this is known as:
a. a cluster
b. probability
c. nonprobability
d. bias
14. A basic principle of probability sampling is that a sample will be representative of the population from which it is
drawn if:
a. all members of the population have an equal chance of being selected for the sample
b. the researcher uses a method of selection based upon convenience
c. every “nth” person is selected for the sample
d. all are principles of probability sampling
Chapter_8 Sampling
15. The purpose of sampling is to select a set of elements from a population in such a way that the descriptions of the
sample statistics accurately portray the parameters of the population. This is best achieved through use of:
a. a convenience sample
b. random selection
c. the sampling element
d. stratified sampling
16. Which of the following is not a reason for using random selection methods in selecting samples?
a. random selection is a check on conscious or unconscious bias
b. random selection gives access to probability theory
c. random selection allows for estimates of error
d. random selection allows for privacy
17. Which of the following are not true concerning sampling error?
a. if many independent random samples are drawn from a population, then the sample statistics from those
samples are distributed in a predictable way around the population parameter
b. probability theory allows us to use a formula to estimate how closely the sample statistics are clustered
c. the standard error identifies how spread out or clustered the sample statistics are around the population
parameter
d. sampling error allows us to know if we selected the wrong subjects for our sample
18. Which of the following statements is true concerning the relationship between standard error and sample size?
a. there is a positive relationship
b. there is an inverse relationship
c. as sample size decreases, the standard error decreases
d. as sample size increases, the standard error increases
Chapter_8 Sampling
19. Confidence levels allow the researcher to have some idea of how closely their samples reflect the parameter. Which
of the following statements about confidence levels is not true?
a. if a simple random sample is used, probability theory suggests that researchers can be 68 percent sure the
estimates of that sample fall within one standard error of the parameter
b. if a simple random sample is used, probability theory suggests that researchers can be 95 percent sure that
estimates of that sample fall within two standard errors of the parameter
c. if a simple random sample is used, probability theory suggests that researchers can almost positive (99+
percent) that estimates of that sample fall within three standard errors of the true value
d. if a simple random sample is used, probability theory allows the researcher to know with certainty that they
have accurate data
20. Which of the following is not appropriate for use as a sampling frame?
a. telephone directories when you wish to sample attitudes toward a new law
b. lists of licensed drivers when you wish to ask juveniles their opinions about drinking prohibitions
c. taxpayer rolls when the researcher is interested in public concerns about school appropriations in their
community
d. AMA membership lists to survey doctors about their attitudes concerning HMO’s
21. Which of the following is accurate concerning the use of systematic sampling?
a. systematic sampling is a poor excuse of simple random sampling
b. systematic sampling is often used as a substitute for stratified sampling
c. systematic sampling is frequently used rather than a simple random sample
d. systematic sampling is always considered a non-probability sampling technique
Chapter_8 Sampling
22. When a researcher uses a stratified sampling technique, they
a. select elements from heterogeneous subsets of the population
b. recognize the extent that subsets are homogeneous on stratified variables will generally result in homogeneity
on other variables as well
c. realize that a stratified sample is likely to be less representative on a number of variables than a simple
random sample
d. recognize the extent that subsets are heterogeneous on stratified variables will generally result in
heterogeneity on other variables as well
23. When researching a population where it is impossible or impractical to compile a list of the elements, what is the
proper sampling technique to use?
a. stratified sample
b. systematic sample
c. cluster sample
d. simple random sample
24. Which of the following does not illustrate a population where cluster sampling would be the best choice?
a. law enforcement officers in the United States
b. citizens of Florida
c. probation officers in America
d. inmates in the Wayne County jail
25. Which of the following is not an example of a multistage cluster sample?
a. the British Crime Survey
b. the National Crime Victimization Survey
c. Uniform Crime Reports
d. polling data during an election year
26. When considering probability sampling in general, it is usually the preferred method for selecting study elements
because:
a. probability sampling avoids conscious biases on the part of the researcher
b. it does not permit the researcher to estimate the sampling error
c. it does not control unconscious biases in the selection process
d. nonprobability sampling is too difficult
27. Which of the following is the best example of the use of judgmental sampling?
a. exit polls on election days
b. surveys of all police chiefs in America
c. interviews of female inmates in the Los Angeles County Jail
d. households participating in the National Crime Victimization Survey
28. In order to study active criminals who have not been arrested for their criminal acts, the researcher would be wise to
employ which type of sampling technique?
a. purposive sampling
b. snowball sampling
c. convenience sampling
d. stratified random sampling
29. When a researcher uses probability sampling, he/she can:
a. never be sure that the sample reflects the population from which it was drawn
b. estimate the amount of sampling error that can be expected
c. never guarantee the population elements of a known nonzero probability of being selected for the sample
d. never be sure that the entire sampling frame was included
30. The true list of elements in the population is called the:
a. parameter
b. sampling frame
c. population
d. sample
31. Dwayne wanted to find out what the citizens of Canton think about a proposed law that would require sex offenders
to be treated in the community in lieu of prison confinement and he decided to randomly call people listed in the
phone book. What is his sampling frame?
a. the citizens of Canton
b. the proposed law
c. telephone listings
d. sex offenders
32. On the first day of the semester your introductory criminology instructor handed out a very long questionnaire asking
things that you did not think was appropriate about your drinking habits. Back in the dorm you complained to your
roommates and discovered that they were given the same questionnaire by their instructors. What sampling method
was used?
a. snowball sample
b. multistage cluster sample
c. simple random sample
d. reliance on available subjects
33. Your criminal justice class requires a study of the success of your state’s drug courts. The professor suggests that
you first select 10 counties from your state. From those ten counties you will select the two largest cities from each.
Finally the drug courts in each of the cities will be monitored to measure success. What type of sampling design did
your professor suggest?
a. stratified sampling
b. multistage cluster sampling
c. multistage cluster sampling with stratification
d. judgmental sampling
34. Quota samples, judgmental samples, snowball samples and reliance on available subjects are all examples of:
a. nonprobability sampling
b. probability sampling
c. sampling distributions
d. sampling frames
35. Multistage cluster sampling with stratification, systematic sampling, simple random sampling and disproportionate
stratified sampling are examples of:
a. nonprobability sampling
b. probability sampling
c. sampling distributions
d. sampling frames
36. Reporters from your local television news affiliate frequently ask people on a pedestrian shopping street during the
lunch hour their opinions about criminal justice issues and play the responses on the 6:00 news. The reporters are
using:
a. reliance on available subjects
b. probability sampling
c. stratified sampling
d. quota sampling
37. The method of relying on available subjects is sometimes misleadingly called:
a. cluster sampling
b. convenience sampling
c. snowball sampling
d. quota sampling
38. Reliance on available subjects can be an appropriate sampling method if:
a. the researcher wants to study the characteristics of people who are passing the sample point at some
specified time
b. collecting data from people what have all characteristics of a matrix
c. the researcher wants to do research on active criminals or deviants
d. the researcher only has a questionnaire to be completed
39. Which method begins with a matrix or table describing the characteristics of a target population?
a. probability
b. snowball
c. quota
d. simple random sampling
40. Which sampling method is commonly used to pretest a questionnaire?
a. stratification
b. quota
c. snowball
d. purposive
41. The unit about which information is gathered and forms the basis for analysis is known as a:
a. sampling element
b. unit of observation
c. sampling frame
d. sample
42. Sample statistics are used to:
a. ask questions
b. make estimates of population parameters
c. form a basis for analysis
d. theoretically specify grouping of study elements
43. The value for a given variable in a population is a:
a. population parameter
b. sample element
c. sample statistic
d. equal probability of selection method
44. The bell-shaped curve is representative of:
a. standard deviations
b. standard error
c. the sampling distribution of a very large number of samples
d. sampling error
