A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What is a disadvantage of stratified sampling mentioned in relation to Baron-Cohen's study?

1. Participants are often too heterogeneous

2. People may not consent to participate

3. It lacks reliability in test results

4. It requires extensive resources

The correct answer is: People may not consent to participate

In the context of Baron-Cohen's study, the identified disadvantage relates to the possibility that individuals selected for participation may not agree to take part in the research. This is particularly critical in stratified sampling, where the goal is to ensure that sub-groups of a population are represented proportionally within the sample. If individuals selected from these sub-groups choose not to participate, it may lead to complications in achieving a truly representative sample. This factor can hinder the research's ability to generalize findings, as the absence of consent from a portion of the population could result in bias or skewed data. This highlights a significant challenge in recruiting participants, especially when specific characteristics are needed to meet the criteria established for different strata. Moreover, when the sample becomes non-representative due to participant drop-out, the overall validity of the research is compromised. While there may be other disadvantages associated with stratified sampling, including the potential for extensive resources required for careful selection and categorization, the focus here is on the crucial aspect of participant consent, which can significantly influence the integrity of the results.