- Quota sampling is a non-probability sampling technique used to select participants for a survey.
- It involves dividing the population into mutually exclusive sub-groups, known as quotas, and then selecting individuals to fill those quotas.
Features of quota sampling:
- Quotas are established for each subgroup of the population based on predetermined characteristics such as age, gender, education level, etc.
- The researcher selects the individuals to be included in the study based on the established quotas.
- It is a quick and inexpensive method of sampling.
- It does not require a complete list of the population.
- The sample can be adjusted to ensure that it is representative of the population.
Situations where appropriate:
- When the population is too large to survey completely, and a random sample is not possible.
- When the population is difficult to define, such as tourists or undocumented workers.
- When it is important to ensure that specific subgroups are represented in the sample.
Benefits/Advantages:
- Quota sampling can be faster and cheaper than other sampling methods.
- It allows for control over the composition of the sample.
- It ensures that the sample is representative of the population.
- It can be used to study rare subgroups.
- It can provide data on subgroups that are too small for probability sampling.
Drawbacks/Disadvantages:
- Quota sampling may introduce bias into the sample if the quotas are not accurately representative of the population.
- It may be difficult to determine which quotas to use and how many individuals to include in each quota.
- It may not provide a truly random sample of the population.
- It may not be suitable for all research purposes.
- It may not provide sufficient data on rare subgroups.
