Question

Why is it argued that samples recruited online are not representative of the general population?

a) None of the below.
b) Because Internet users are most likely to be white, young and middle class.
c) Because women are less likely than men to volunteer for online social research.
d) Because online researchers only use random probability sampling methods.

Answer 1

Online samples recruited from the internet are often argued to be non-representative due to demographic biases and non-random sampling methods.

Step-by-step explanation:

Online samples recruited from the internet are often argued to be non-representative of the general population due to various reasons. One reason is that internet users are more likely to be white, young, and middle class, leading to a lack of diversity in the sample. Another reason is that women are less likely than men to participate in online social research, creating a gender bias in the sample. Furthermore, online researchers often use self-selected sampling methods, where only those who choose to respond participate, leading to a non-random sample that may not accurately represent the entire population.