What is a convenience sampling?

What is stratified and convenience sampling?

• Answer:

  Hi Beth, A stratified sample is one in which the same amount of selected traits [e.g., age, gender, marital status] are purposely included in a sample as are found in the population from which the sample is being drawn. So... if we know that 40% of our population of interest is male, we make sure to have 40% of our sample be male. A sample of convenience is drawn from whichever members of the population are available, whether the sample is representative or not. So... if we draw our sample by standing on a street corner and including people who happen by in our sample we'll end up with a sample of convenience. Needless to say, a stratified sample is preferable to a sample of convenience. Sometimes stratified samples are referred to in the popular press as "scientific samples." Regards.