What is convenience sampling?

Convenience sampling is the way of collecting data for research to get insights on a matter. It is also known as accidental sampling. In this, samples are collected from humans, which are easy to reach. It is a kind of non-probability sampling where all the individuals are not strategically selected.

Samples are collected from a pool of different respondents. The sampling amount and techniques differ based on the process that has to be followed and the purpose.

Why is a convenience sample used?

As the name suggests, convenience sampling is very convenient. It helps to complete a last-minute task by selecting random people to complete a survey or study. However, this does not report the entire population but helps depict one of the possible outcomes for the research.

It does not include many monetization methods and is easy to conduct. The process is not very tiring or full of restrictions. It is more like "picking whatever you get." This helps in conducting research very fast. For example, suppose you are doing a  convenience sampling for KFC. Then you won't be able to get information from every client; hence you will have to take your chances and complete the task by getting whom you find.

This makes it a straightforward going sampling method, especially when the vast population is considered, and there are no specific conditions to be followed, which makes the process authentic and exciting at the same time.

Simple techniques of doing convenience sampling

The convenience sample can differ based on the objective of the task. However, the overall method is somewhat similar each time convenience sampling is conducted. So here are the three steps which are essential in this method:-

1. Collect samples:- the first step is to collect convenience sampling examples. In this, you can carry out research in a place and then collect samples for a day and preserve them.
2. Repeat with different samples:- On the next day, you can start collecting samples again for the same purpose, but this time from a separate or fresh batch of people. This will give you more data, and the probability of finding an accurate solution by finding similar results increases.
3. Cross-check the data:-   Finally, perform the analysis for both the samples separately and when you can cross-check both the data to conclude.  Having more than one data helps eliminate or determine the factors that are common and the factors that are fluctuating.

This is the standard convenience sampling method which is repeated each time no matter what the objective is.

Advantages and disadvantages of convenience sampling

Just like everything, there are advantages of convenience sampling along with its disadvantages. So let’s start by looking at some of the benefits first:-

Advantages of convenience sampling:-

• Effortless and time-saving- convenience sampling method is straightforward to perform and time-saving. The researchers do not need to go to difficult places and invest a  lot of time. We won’t say that there is no time involved, but it is less than other primary research methods. Also, the criteria and research techniques are pretty realistic and straightforward to carry out.
• Inexpensive- convenience sampling is based on taking interviews or short surveys from random people; hence it is a very affordable method. Furthermore, there are no high-tech machines or software utilized to get the work done. There is not even a specific research lab required for accruing out these sampling techniques. Hence, it is a great way to keep your budget in check and still get results for your topic.
• No strict selection criteria- when it comes to convenience sampling, there is no convenience sample bias. Hence, the selection criteria are straightforward. As we have to pick up random people for this process, there are no strict eligibility criteria which mean everyone is accountable for this sampling. As the eligibility is quite flexible and everyone fits in, it does not call for strict regulations.

Now that we have seen some of the advantages of convenience sampling, let us look at why convenience sampling is unreliable.

Disadvantages of convenience sampling

• Not accurate results- convenience sampling is not the best method of research to conclude. The results are very biased and do not represent the entire community or population. It is just a probability method where the results cannot be determined. Moreover, the samples are collected from only a  few possible people, which is not justifiable to conclude as an exact answer for research.

• Hard to convince- As convenience sampling is based on human results, it isn't easy to convince people to be a pr of this in the first place. Often it is due to lack of time or trust in people that they refuse to be a part of such conduct. This can make the process lengthy to find the right kind of people and convince them to be a part of the survey.

• Over /under-representation of the population- As already stated, the solutions can be biased. For example, if you are going to take a survey on the healthcare of people working in the mechanical industry. There are so many different kinds of mechanical industries, and each employee has a different role. Therefore, if you only take samples from workers and not someone who maintains the control unit, you cannot conclude that the results apply to every mechanical industry. Hence, most of the time, the results are either over or under-representation in the population.

These were some of the disadvantages and advantages of convenience sampling. Although there are disadvantages in every method, hence it comes to this, the limitations of convenience sampling are significantly less as compared to another process. Sometimes they are very minute, which can be neglected. Hence, overall this method is still very convenient to get fast results on a low budget.

The convenience sampling method has been going on for years, and we believe that it will be continued in the future. However, based on the pros and cons of convenience sampling, the cons can be eliminated by repeating the steps numerous times to reach closer to filtering out and finding the right solution.