In: Nursing
Which of the following sampling techniques poses the BIGGEST threat to the external validity of a study?
Group of answer choices
simple random sampling
convenience sampling
stratified random sampling
proportional quota sampling
Which of the following sampling techniques poses the BIGGEST threat to the external validity of a study?
Answer:
Answer is convenience sampling. It is because, a convenience sample is a type of non-probability sampling and in this the sample is taken as per the convenience of the investigators only. The sample is not representatives of the target population, the results of the study cannot be generalized to the entire population. This will make a low external validity of the study. External validity is the validity of generalizing or applying the results and conclusions of a scientific study outside the framework of that study. In this convenience sampling, there is no randomization and in this investigators are choosing samples based on their convenience. So this is really a threat to the external validity
About the remaining options:
Simple random sampling, Stratified random sampling and Proportional quota sampling are main types of probability sampling methods. In probability sampling every member in a target population have equal chance for being a part of the study. So this will never threat to the external validity