What is the term for a sample of participants produced by selecting people more available at the time of the study?

Opportunity sampling refers to the selection of participants based on their availability to the researcher at the time of the study. This method allows researchers to gather a sample quickly and easily, especially in situations where time or resources are limited. For instance, a researcher might choose individuals who are present in a particular location, such as a shopping mall or a college campus, as they are readily accessible.

This approach can be beneficial for exploratory research or pilot studies where a quick gathering of data is essential. However, it may lead to biases since the sample may not be representative of the entire population, as it only includes those who happen to be available at that moment.

In contrast, methods like random sampling involve selecting participants in a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen, which promotes a more representative sample. Similarly, systematic sampling and stratified sampling follow different procedures aimed at achieving specific representation within the sample, but these methods do not rely on the immediate availability of participants.