nonprobability sampling

nonrandom selection: any process of choosing a subset of participants or cases from a larger population in which it is impossible to precisely determine each unit’s likelihood of being selected. Examples include convenience sampling and quota sampling. Nonprobability sampling makes it difficult to determine how well the target population is represented by the subset, thus limiting the generalizability of findings. Compare probability sampling.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

NMDA receptor

a type of glutamate receptor that binds NMDA as well as glutamate. NMDA receptors are coupled to ligand-gated ion channels and are also voltage-sensitive, which enables them to participate in a variety of information-processing operations at synapses where glutamate is the neurotransmitter. The drugs of abuse ketamine and PCP are antagonists at NMDA receptors, preventing the influx of calcium ions at calcium channels, which may cause the hallucinogenic effects of these drugs. Excessive flow of calcium ions into the presynaptic neuron via the NMDA receptor is thought to contribute to glutamate toxicity. A hypothesis on the etiology of schizophrenia involves dysfunction of the NMDA glutamate receptor (see glutamate hypothesis). Compare AMPA receptor.