Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Jawad Golzar ^{1, 2}
• Shagofah Noor ¹
• Omid Tajik ³

¹ Herat University

² M.A TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

³ M.A. in TESL, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

The sampling method is significant to strengthen the representativeness of the sample and the generalizability of the research results. One of the non-probability sampling techniques is convenience sampling which is a way of selecting participants from the target population based on ease of access. This descriptive article aims to define convenient sampling, explain how to frame it, and finally its potential benefits and drawbacks. This sampling technique yields several inherent benefits, including being cost-effective, less time-consuming, simple operation, etc., and also possesses different drawbacks such as being subjected to sample biases, systematic errors, not being representative enough, and no generalizability of the research findings. The study concludes with some suggestions to improve the convenience sampling technique to ensure representativeness and remove uncertainty.   

Keywords

• Convenience sampling
• non-probability
• sample bias
• ease of access
• generalizability