Samples | Nursing homework help
This is a non-probability sample method that selects participants based upon their willingness and availability to participate. The convenience sample is used frequently in research studies as it is an easy, cost-effective way to recruit participants.
The use of convenience samples can affect the interpretation and application of the results. Consider these potential concerns:
- Restricted generalizability. A convenience sample may have findings that aren’t representative of a population. The reason for this is that convenience samples are not usually selected randomly, so certain sections of the population could be under- or over-represented. The results of convenience samples may not apply to other populations.
- Results that are biased: convenience sampling may also bias the results of a study. If a researcher selects participants from one location, or in a certain setting, then the study results could be biased toward the opinions or experiences of those people. If the researcher selects participants with a certain interest or trait, then the results may also be biased.
- A second limitation is the difficulty in drawing causal relationships between variables. It is possible that convenience sampling does not account for all factors which could influence the relationship between variables.
In general, the convenience sampling can reduce the validity and generalisability of findings. When interpreting or using results from studies that employ convenience sampling, researchers should be aware of the limitations associated with this method.