In quota sampling, researchers decide the number of participants with certain characteristics before collecting data. Which term describes this approach?

• A. Purposive sampling
• B. Quota sampling
• C. Snowball sampling
• D. Random sampling

Answer: (B)

Quota sampling focuses on pre-setting how many participants are needed from each subgroup before collecting data, so the final sample reflects those specified proportions. After the quotas are defined, participants are chosen non-randomly until each quota is filled, rather than drawing from the whole population at random. This differs from random sampling (which relies on chance to select any member of the population) and from snowball sampling (which relies on referrals) or purposive sampling (which targets particular cases for a purpose). The key idea is that the numbers of people in each subgroup are decided in advance to shape the sample's composition.