Method 2. Convenient sample

If you just want to proof that FGM is practiced and get an idea who does it and why, a simple convenient sample might bring you useful data. It can also function as a way to gather information and ideas and formulate hypotheses. Talking to people might provide you with surprising information, that you have not thought of before.

So first define your target group. Then think of spots where to meet them best.

• Shopping Malls

• Universities

• Hospitals

• Religious places

• Community centers

• through social contacts

You can start with your family, friends or college mates. But: If your friends are mostly university grads in your city then you have learned something about FGM in this group but can’t say much about village women with basic schooling. You can also concentrate on institutions. If you want to question the female students of your university you could do this as a random sample. It depends how carefully you select them. Read Random Sample, especially section University Students.

Make your sample more representative

You can – and should! – attempt to make a convenient sample as representative as possible. How is your target group structured in terms of age, income, education, religions?

If you decided to ask people at a community center, a mosque or on the street, you could make sure that all different groups are represented by different strategies: e.g. picking them by sight, going to several shopping malls and markets in different neighborhoods with different class background, visiting the community center at different times when different groups are present.

• Be clear about which group you are asking and the possible restrictions in the outcomes

• Try to consider criteria such as different surroundings like urban or rural, rich and poor areas, and a meaningful representation of the religious and ethnic composition.

Make an assessment after each round

A good method is to check after each round what you got. You went to a shopping mall and it turns out that most women there where above 30? Think about where younger people might hang out and go there the next day. You went to a community center and most women you spoke to were Christians? Think of a place where Muslims (or others) may meet.

This can even be done when asking friends: You have asked 30 of your friends and when checking their answers you see that 25 of them happen to be Shia Muslims, but in you country Sunnis make up half of the population. For the next round you ask a Sunni friend for help, probably she has more Sunni friends in her circle. If she asks them this could balance your results.

Next

• You can read more about how age and background of your interviewees can effect the results of your study in the section random sample.
• If you are thinking of using emails or social media to contact your friends and their friends (or any other group) please read about online surveys.
• If you are sure about your sample, you can start working on your questionnaire. Go to: How to use the basic questionnaire.