LESSON: Sampling Methods

In a convenience sample, subjects are chosen because they are easy to reach because of their proximity to the researcher. These subjects are convenient to sample because they are close at hand.

Suppose your statistics teacher gave you an assignment to perform a survey of 20 individuals. You would most likely tend to ask your friends and family to participate, because it would be easy and quick. This is an example of convenience sampling, or convenience bias. While it is not always true, your friends are usually people who share common values, interests, and opinions. This could cause those opinions to be over-represented in relation to the true population. 

Also, have you ever been approached by someone conducting a survey on the street or in a mall? If such a person were just to ask the first 20 people they found, there is the potential that large groups representing various opinions would not be included, resulting in undercoverage.

©CK-12 Foundation

Licensed under  • Terms of Use • Attribution