returned to the container and this process continues
until 10 student names have been selected. Should one of
the selected students decline to participate in the study,
another name would be selected in the same manner.
When the accessible population is large, it may be
easier for researchers to use a random numbers table.
Such a table contains columns of digits (see Table 11-2).
Each element in the sampling frame is assigned a num-
ber. The researcher points to a number on the random numbers table to begin
the selection process. The researcher then proceeds through the table either
horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Numbers are selected until the desired
sample size is achieved. Elements corresponding to the numbers selected form
the sample. For example, in a study to determine student interest in creating
a smoke-free campus, the accessible population is 5,500 undergraduate and
graduate students. The researcher secures a list of all students enrolled in the
university and assigns each name on the list a number. It has been determinedFYI
Researchers can use several sampling meth-
ods to select subjects. The methods can be
divided into two categories: probability and
nonprobability sampling. Researchers should
select a method based on the purpose of
the research, the research question, and the
research design.5 2 25 52
57 63 12 72
29 31 84 20
27 80 48 11
59 1 26 6
8 19 28 86
83 53 64 22
14 45 35 37
7 23 21 46
22 4 15 57
17 61 82 85
44 34 31 10
60 24 58 55
16 54 13 71
56 62 65 33
81 9 87 47TABLE 11-2 Table of Random Numbers
292 CHAPTER 11 Using Samples to Provide Evidence