Note: these videos are also available to view in our iBooks Textbook: 'Research Methods for Business Students, Managers and Entrepreneurs', available to download FREE from the iBooks Store (http://bit.ly/USWResearchMethods). The book is equivalent to a full module of study at Masters' level.

The University of South Wales was formed in 2013 by the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. Items in this collection may have been originally published on iTunes U by the University of Glamorgan.

This collection presents animations explaining a variety of sampling techniques used within the data gathering phase of the research process.

Due to factors such as limited time, accessibility and expense, it is rarely possible for a researcher to gather data from the complete population in which they are interested. Therefore, the researcher has to gather data from a subset of the population, ie a sample. The researcher will usually want to make general statements about the population as a whole, therefore, in most cases, the elements or units selected for the sample should be as representative of that population as possible.

The choice of sampling method should be determined by the research question (or hypothesis), the availability of information about the population being considered and the resources available. The size of the sample and the sampling method used will influence the validity and generalisability of the conclusions that are reached following analysis.

This series of videos demonstrates a variety of sampling techniques used within the data-gathering phase of the research process. They are presented in a graphical format to help explain the concepts. You can see all the examples combined in the 'omnibus' video.

The University has also published the book and the video collection in Welsh translation, with the title 'Dulliau Ymchwil'.

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Noder: mae’r fideos yma hefyd ar gael i’w gweld yn ein gwerslyfr iBooks: “Dulliau Ymchwil ar gyfer Myfyrwyr Busnes, Rheolwyr ac Entrepreneuriaid” sydd ar gael i’w lawrlwytho AM DDIM o’r iBooks Store (http://bit.ly/LlyfrDulliauYmchwil). Mae’r llyfr yn cyfateb i fodiwl cyfan o astudio ar lefel gradd Meistr.

Mae’r casgliad hwn yn cyflwyno animeiddiadau yn esbonio nifer o dechnegau samplu sy’n cael eu defnyddio wrth gasglu data yn y broses ymchwil.

Oherwydd ffactorau fel diffyg amser, hygyrchedd a chost, anaml y mae’n bosibl i ymchwilydd gasglu data oddi wrth y boblogaeth gyfan mae ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb ynddi. Felly, mae rhaid i’r ymchwilydd gasglu data o is-set o'r boblogaeth, hy sampl. Fel arfer bydd yr ymchwilydd eisiau gwneud datganiadau cyffredinol am y boblogaeth yn ei chyfanrwydd, felly, yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, fe ddylai’r elfennau neu’r unedau sydd wedi’u dewis ar gyfer y sampl fod mor gynrychioliadol o’r boblogaeth honno ag sy’n bosibl.

Dylai’r dewis o ddull samplu gael ei benderfynu gan y cwestiwn ymchwil (neu’r hypothesis), argaeledd y wybodaeth am y boblogaeth sydd dan ystyriaeth a’r adnoddau sydd ar gael. Fe fydd maint y sampl a’r dull samplu yn dylanwadu ar ddilysrwydd a pha mor gyffredinol mae’r casgliadau sydd wedi’u canfod ar ôl dadansoddi.

Mae’r gyfres o fideos yn dangos amrywiaeth o dechnegau samplu sy’n cael eu defnyddio yn y cyfnod casglu data yn y broses ymchwil. Maent yn cael eu cyflwyno mewn fformat graffeg er mwyn helpu i esbonio’r cysyniadau.