Survey Research and Sampling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Survey Research and Sampling - Assignment Example This method of research is an important measurement area applied in social research within fields such as psychology, sociology, politics and market research (Creswell 2002, p.57). The approach often adopts interviews or questionnaire administration as the data collection modes. The survey method was introduced in the 1930s by a popular sociologist known as Paul Lazarsfeld (Sarah 2012b). Surveys are commonly classified according to instrumentation (questionnaires or interviews) and according to the time-frame of the study (longitudinal or cross-sectional) (Marczyk, DeMatteo&Festinger, 2010, p. 27). Surveys find wide application, but they are best suited for gathering information currently not available from other sources (Sarah 2012c). They therefore, could act as precursors to further and specific research in a quantitative, experimental approach. Surveys conducted in qualitative perspective can lay ground for the development of clearly defined and deeper studies in a quantitative a pproach (Sarah 2012c). This happens after research questions and variables get clearly defined in the preliminary qualitative surveys. Surveys are also important research instruments whose application is favored by various advantages that are inherent to the approach. For example, surveys offer a low cost approach to conducting efficient studies, especially when questionnaires are used. Unlike other approaches to research, surveys could also be tailored to take less time, and therefore, enhancing time efficiency and cost effectiveness (Sarah 2012a). Apart from cost and time effectiveness, surveys also provide high levels of representativeness (Sarah 2012a). This is important in enhancing validity of inferences made and generalization of findings to wider populations. Surveys are also important because they offer convenience in data collection, which could adopt various models such as interviews (face-to-face or telephone) and questionnaires (via mail, e-mail or hand delivery) (Sarah 2012a). This convenience could even allow globalized scale of data collection. Survey approaches are also important and appropriate when numerous variables are involved (Fink 2002, p. 71). Precision and standardization of surveys is also an important element that results from the clear definition and standardization of questions that equally assess participants. Criteria of a good sample in surveys Survey sampling entails the careful selection of survey participants by defining the inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as sample size (Sarah 2012c). Sampling is a critical phase in surveys because it determines the validity and reliability of the overall study. In order to be confident that the survey findings are truly representative of the target population, it is critical to ensure that the sample size is large enough and its components undergo random selection. In order to obtain a good sample a clearly defined criterion for the participants should be set so as to acquire a sa mple from which participants can offer reliable information for the assessment of the phenomenon of interest (Sarah 2012a). For example, in order to assess satisfaction in healthcare delivery, it would be appropriate to sample from the patient population rather than the medical practitioners’ population. Sampling the appropriate target population ensures the sample obtained is good for research. Randomness should also be enhanced so as to improve representativeness, which ensures the sample

A Journey to the Mountain Peak Personal Statement

A Journey to the Mountain Peak - Personal Statement Example As a two-year-old, I did not understand the implication of the death of my father. Having lived a poverty-stricken life, my father suffered some physical ailments-year-old was not even aware of. He did not have the ability to bring himself to the hospital so that no one even knew what he was suffering from. For lack of resources, my mother had to attend to my father’s needs only to ease his pains before his death. As a child, I saw my mother’s sufferings, crying as she spoke to my father, pleading to him to get well very soon. For me, those were nothing. I cried with my mother simply because she was crying but I never understood that behind the sufferings and impending death of my father, my mother was thinking about how she was to raise three young children. When my father finally died, my mother howled. I can still vaguely remember my mother weeping beside my father’s cadaver. She was inconsolable. My uncles and aunts tried to comfort her but their efforts were all in vain. I guess my mother only stopped when she finally got tired and had no more energy to weep for her beloved husband. I guess I could say that one of the biggest mountains that I have been through is the death of my father. As I mentioned earlier, I did not understand very well the things that were happening then however, I have suffered the consequences with my family. We have always been in want. My mother tried some menial jobs and the food was not always enough. Also, my education together with my siblings’, were always at risk because the mother was almost always ready to give up on us when times get really tough. As I grew older and as I begun to understand the death of my father and our the suffering, I came to appreciate my mother and decide to do everything in my power to help my mother out of the poverty we have been bound to. Thankfully, I have an uncle who made it his personal goal to help my mother raise her children. He was a kind person, working more hours and managing his resources well in order for him to be able to help us not only financially but also with his kind words, encouragement and quality time with us. My uncle believed in our capabilities. He always mentioned our poverty not to make us feel bad but to challenge us. He always found time to support me and my siblings to study well despite our situation because he claimed it is the only key available to us to open doors for better opportunities. I still remember him saying that we have so many things which can make us succeed which are not even present among rich and famous people. I learned from my uncle that at such trying times, the inner characteristics of a man are put to a test and the fiery trials are what brings out the best in him. I looked up to my uncle as a wise counselor and a model. Looking back, I think I did well in trusting him because, in times of great challenges, his words often rang in my head and my heart.