A-F6-Methodology

The outcome of any particular inquiry, whether it be the subject of world distribution of aluminum or the pattern of farming in Aranguez, is dependent on the accuracy and completeness of the data available.

= (Data collected under the student's control- by his investigative means) = || = Secondary Data Collection Methods = = (Data collected not by means not under his direct control = = i.e. the student uses someone elses study/investigation) = || 1. Observation made in the field 2. Samples tested for evidence eg. Examining a section of soil for texture 3. Measuring river velocity 4. Interview/ Questionnaires conducted || Egs. 1. Information obtained from books, journals, newspapers 2. Previous studies conducted on the issue 3. Archival information 4. Research, maps, photos obtained from the internet 5. OS maps, Statellite photos ||
 * = Primary DataCollection methods =
 * Egs.

Sampling Methods:
==Random Sampling- to reduce biasness, each item in the population ( the area/activity/people/vegetation etc u have decided to study) must have an equal chance to be chosen to form the sample population. ==

__**Types of Random Sampling:**__

** How to use a random number table. **
(adapted from: Neag School of Education - University of Connecticutdel.siegle@uconn.edu [|www.delsiegle.com])
 * 1) Let's assume that we have a population of 185 students and each student has been assigned a number from 1 to 185. Suppose we wish to sample 5 students (although we would normally sample more, we will use 5 for this example).
 * 2) Since we have a population of 185 and 185 is a three digit number, we need to use the first three digits of the numbers listed on the chart.
 * 3) We close our eyes and randomly point to a spot on the chart. For this example, we will assume that we selected 20631 in the first column.
 * 4) We interpret that number as 206 (first three digits). Since we don't have a member of our population with that number, we go to the next number 899 (89990). Once again we don't have someone with that number, so we continue at the top of the next column. As we work down the column, we find that the first number to match our population is 100 (actually 10005 on the chart). Student number 100 would be in our sample. Continuing down the chart, we see that the other four subjects in our sample would be students 049, 082, 153, and 005.

2. **__//Point Sampling ( also known as nearest neighbour analysis)-//__** A similar method adopted, except instead of using random table of numbers, the parent population consist of points on a map
====3. **//__Systematic Sampling__//**- is a quasi random pattern- a regular pattern is used to extract the sample population eg. If there is a parent population of 200 persons, every 4th person can be chosen to form the sample population.====

====4. **__//Stratified Sampling-//__** population may be separated into smaller groups under categories, and then using a random method a selection is made from each of the sub groups to form the sample population. * when dividing the parent population into sub groups all members of each subgroup must share the same criteria.====