Creative Writing On Sampling as a Research Method

Probability sampling is a method of selecting a sample in which the members of a sample are selected randomly. In this case, each of the units in a population has equal chances of being selected. The method is advantageous in that it leads to a sample that represents the population. In a non probabilistic sampling process, the items in a population are not selected randomly and some units may have greater chances of being selected. In this case, the resulting sample may not be a representative of the population.
Research is conducted for various purposes. It can be meant to explore a certain topic. The researcher aims at gaining a better understanding on the subject. Second, the research can be for explanation purpose. For this purpose, the researcher seeks to give an explanation about a particular issue that is not well understood by the people. This is where the researcher gives reasons why a particular issue is the way it is. Finally, a research can be meant for describing a certain thing. Describing can involve giving more details about a certain thing. In this case, it is possible that the available knowledge is not enough hence; details of the issue are obtained through research.
Units of analysis refer to the exact thing that the research seeks to evaluate and analyze. A research could seek to analyze particular individuals. In this case, information about the research is collected from each particular individual separately. Unit of analysis could be a group. This means that the study could seek to analyze people living in a particular region. This forms the group of people from whom data is needed.
Cross sectional research is research that is carried out within a short period and then ends. The data in the research may be collect for one month and then a research is completed. On the other hand, longitudinal research takes place over years. The data may be collected for many years before a final report is prepared.