What is the main characteristic of convenience sampling?

Convenience sampling is defined primarily by the characteristic that it selects individuals based on their availability and willingness to participate. This method involves gathering a sample of participants who are easily accessible to the researcher rather than selecting them through random sampling methods. As a result, this approach often leads to a sample that may not be representative of the broader population because it depends on who happens to be available at the time of data collection.

In contrast, ensuring that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected pertains to random sampling methods, which aim for greater representation and reduced bias. Dividing the population into strata before sampling aligns with stratified sampling techniques, which seek to enhance representativeness by acknowledging and incorporating different subgroups. Lastly, using random selection is characteristic of random sampling, not convenience sampling, which relies on participants' availability rather than randomization. Therefore, the definition of convenience sampling focuses clearly on the ease of access to participants rather than the randomness or representation that other sampling methods emphasize.