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  3. 38. Sampling
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Sampling

  • Nicolena vonHedemann(author)
Chapter of: The Field Guide to Mixing Social and Biophysical Methods in Environmental Research(pp. 543–548)
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Title Sampling
ContributorNicolena vonHedemann(author)
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0418.38
Landing pagehttps://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0418/chapters/10.11647/obp.0418.38
Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
CopyrightNicolena vonHedemann;
PublisherOpen Book Publishers
Published on2025-02-25
Long abstract

Sampling is the selection of a subset of a defined population to investigate and is guided by research questions. Sampling strategies include non-probability methods (i.e., case studies and purposive, convenience, snowball, or quota sampling) most common in qualitative social science and probability methods (i.e., random, systematic, or stratified sampling) where inferential statistics can be used to develop generalizations about the broader population. Careful consideration of sampling strategy selection is necessary to determine the best method to accurately represent the population, minimize bias, and approach research ethically.

Page rangepp. 543–548
Print length6 pages
LanguageEnglish (Original)
Locations
Landing PageFull text URLPlatform
PDFhttps://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0418/chapters/10.11647/obp.0418.38Landing pagehttps://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0418.38.pdfFull text URL
HTMLhttps://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0418/chapters/10.11647/obp.0418.38Landing pagehttps://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0418/ch38.xhtmlFull text URLPublisher Website
Contributors

Nicolena vonHedemann

(author)
Human Dimensions Specialist at the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1376-7927
References
  1. For more detailed information on probabilistic methods, see Jensen and Shumway’s ‘Sampling our world’ in Research Methods in Geography: A Critical Introduction or Rice’s ‘Sampling in geography’ in Key Methods in Geography, 2nd edition. For a focus on survey sampling, see McLafferty in Key Methods in Geography, 3rd edition.
  2. Jensen, R. and J.M. Shumway. 2010. ‘Sampling our world’, chapter 39 in Research Methods in Geography: A Critical Introduction, ed. by J.P. Jones III and B. Gomez (Wiley-Blackwell), pp. 77–90.
  3. Johnston, R.J., D. Gregory, G. Pratt, and M. Watts. 2000. The Dictionary of Human Geography (Blackwell).
  4. Lane, S.N., Chapter 24, this volume. ‘Case studies’.
  5. Lane, S.N., Chapter 42, this volume. ‘Statistical inference’.
  6. McLafferty, S.L. 2016. ‘Conducting questionnaire surveys’, in Key Methods in Geography, ed. by N. Clifford, M. Cope, and T. Gillespie (Sage Publications).
  7. Rice, S. 2010. ‘Sampling in geography’, in Key Methods in Geography, ed. by N. Clifford, M. Cope, and T. Gillespie (Sage Publications), pp. 230–252.

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