What best describes volunteer sampling?

Volunteer sampling is characterized by the process in which individuals self-select to be part of a study. This method involves recruiting participants who express their willingness to participate, often in response to advertisements or announcements made by the researcher. This approach can lead to a sample that reflects the interests or motivations of the volunteers, which may influence the results of the research.

In contrast to other sampling methods, such as random selection, volunteer sampling does not involve researchers picking participants from the population in a controlled or systematic way. Instead, the participants take the initiative to become involved, which can introduce certain biases since those who choose to volunteer may have different traits or motivations compared to those who do not volunteer. This highlights the strengths and potential limitations of volunteer sampling, as it can be an efficient way to gather participants but may not represent the larger population adequately.