Question

Sometimes samples are composed entirely of volunteer responders. Give a brief description of the dangers of using voluntary response samples.

Short answer

Voluntary response samples can be hazardous due to the potential for self-selection bias, as those who volunteer may be fundamentally different from those who do not (e.g., having stronger opinions or more time/interest in the topic). This risk can make the sample unrepresentative and skew the results, threatening the validity and reliability of the research.

Step-by-step solution

Define Voluntary Response Samples

A Voluntary Response Sample is a sample made up of volunteers. In this type of sampling, individuals choose to become part of a survey on their own accord. Rather than being selected by a researcher, participants in a voluntary response sample self-select to participate in the study.

Identify the Dangers of Voluntary Response Samples

The main issue with voluntary response samples lies in the potential for bias. Particularly, it can lead to a self-selection bias where individuals who choose to respond might be different from those who do not. For example, they may be more likely to have strong opinions about the topic, more time, more understanding, or more interest in the topic. This can make the sample not representative of the population and skew the results.

Conclude the Analysis

In conclusion, while voluntary response samples can be feasible and convenient to use, they carry the risk of undermining the validity and reliability of the survey results due to bias and lack of representativeness. Thus, caution should be exercised when using this sampling method, and it could be beneficial to combine it with other sampling strategies to ensure a more holistic and representative understanding of the research topic or population.