SAMPLE ERRORS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

Text topic: METHODOLOGY OF MODERN SOCIAL RESEARCH – PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

Text author: Снежана Стојшин и Владан Видицки

The paper points out errors that can occur during the planning and selection of samples in the study of social phenomena, causes behind such errors and ways to overcome them. First, sample errors are classified in the paper according to several criteria: according to the sample type, i.e. whether it occurs in the probability or in the non probability sampling methods, and then with respect to the phase in which they occur. After that, the possibilities of overcoming different types of errors are pointed out. The relationship between sample size and possible errors is also analysed. In addition, attention is paid to the sample errors that can occur during fieldwork by the interviewer, which should be distinguished from interviewer-related errors that occur in the process of data collection.