Question

Many statisticians say that convenience sampling method should not be used. Do you agree? Why or why not? Can you think of a scenario in which convenience sampling would work? Explain your example.

Answer 1

Application of convenience sampling is the easiest compared to other sampling methods. Suppose, your dissertation is devoted on the following topic: A study into the sustainability of viral marketing as a marketing tool in the future.

Using convenience sampling method, you can send a link to the online questionnaire to individuals on your mobile phone’s contact list, to individuals you are connected to via social networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and to individuals whom you know in person. This would be the easiest and the most convenient way of recruiting the sources of the primary data for your research.

Advantages of Convenience Sampling

1. Simplicity of sampling and the ease of research
2. Helpful for pilot studies and for hypothesis generation
3. Data collection can be facilitated in short duration of time
4. Cheapest to implement that alternative sampling methods

Disadvantages of Convenience Sampling

1. Highly vulnerable to selection bias and influences beyond the control of the researcher
2. High level of sampling error
3. Studies that use convenience sampling have little credibility due to reasons above