TY - JOUR PY - 1949// TI - Volunteer Subjects as a Source of Sampling Bias JO - American journal of sociology A1 - Wallin, Paul SP - 539 EP - 544 VL - 54 IS - 6 N2 - Many investigations require a sample of persons who are generally volunteer participants in the research. Since some refuse to participate, the question arises whether self-elimination of nonparticipants biases the sample obtained. This question was investigated in a study of engaged couples which secured data about participants and nonparticipants as to a number of characteristics. Participant were compared with participants and nonparticipant combined, the formed being the obtained sample and the latter the complete sample. The two samples differed on only one item, and this did not affect the findings.

LA - SN - 0002-9602 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/220418 ID - ref1 ER -