Question

QUESTION 4 Based on what you've learned this week, which of the following is a more representative sampling method? O A Quota sampling OB. Stratified random sampling

Answer 1

Both quota sampling and stratified random sampling have the same purpose. They attempt to mimic, in their sample, the proportions of the different demographic segments or categories as they exist in the population. For instance, if our population consists of students of a college, and we know that about 60% of these are women, and 40% are men, both these sampling methods will ensure that the same percentage of women and men are included in the sample. So, in a sample of 200 people, 60%, i.e., 120 will be women and 40%, i.e., 80 will be men.

The difference comes in between the two at the stage of making this selection. While stratified random sampling employs a "random sampling" method to make this selection, such as a table of sampling numbers or systematic sampling; quota sampling uses an arbitrary process that may be based on convenience. Taking the same example, stratified random sampling may use a systematic sampling method such as selecting the every 4th woman and man from the population of interest, i.e., the college students; while quota sampling may lead to the researcher accommodating the first 120 and 80 women whom he/she meets.

As such, it becomes clear that stratified random sampling is a more representative method than quota sampling. The former will result in controlling for confounding variables through random selection, which the latter will not be able to achieve.