Hi Noha, Not sure what you’ve already done to establish the most appropriate sampling plan, but off the top of my head systematic is not part of random sampling. You’re probably doing a purposeful sampling. Are you taking a qualitative or quantitative orientation to the analysis? That makes a difference in how you’ll describe (and conduct) the sample. As for further reading: Because these two books are sitting open on my desk, I can recommend these basic introductions to sampling concepts and terms: Sarah Tracy’s textbook on qualitative research methods: covers different qualitative sampling strategies (in the chapter on interviewing). http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-EHEP002631.html I’ve shared a screenshot of her summary of types of sampling here, but the larger section is much more detailed: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6jmm7th5mbl0jfz/tracysamplingchart.png?dl=0 Donald Treadwell’s textbook on introducing Communication Research: presents positivist and interpretivist notions of sampling. http://www.sagepub.com/textbooks/Book237564 You can see a copy of Treadwell's chapter on sampling here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0320vm66m0gec2w/Treadwellch8Sampling.pdf?dl=0 and here’s a nice piece that cuts deeper into the ideas and complexity of qualitative sampling: http://corcom300-s12-lay.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/ARTICLE_Sampling_Quali... Best, annette On 14 Sep 2014, at 11:22, Noha Nagi <noha.a.nagi@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Professors and colleagues,
I was wondering if there are different sampling methods for internet data than the already known sampling methods.
For my research, I was thinking of taking a *systematic random sample* from facebook posts on a each of four facebook pages. I have no information about the heterogeneity between the different pages according to any variable (gender, political affiliation...) so I thought it is not stratified nor cluster, and it will be more likely a systematic sample.
Is systematic sampling* logically right*?
Did any one come across *other sampling techniques for facebook pages*? or internet data in general?
Can anyone suggest *a book to read about this*?
I would love to hear any advice from you.
Yours, *Noha A.Nagi* _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
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