Which sampling technique focuses on using individuals who fit certain predefined criteria?

Quota sampling is a technique that involves selecting individuals based on specific predetermined criteria, ensuring that subgroups within a population are adequately represented. This method allows researchers to ensure diversity within the sample by targeting specific characteristics, such as age, gender, income level, or other demographic features that are relevant to the study.

By utilizing quota sampling, researchers can gather data that reflects the uniqueness of particular segments of a population while controlling the size and makeup of the sample. This technique is particularly useful when time or resources are limited, as it helps to efficiently gather responses from individuals who are most likely to meet the criteria needed for the research purpose.

In contrast, stratified sampling involves dividing the population into strata and then randomly selecting from each stratum to ensure representation proportional to the population. Systematic sampling entails selecting every nth individual from a list, while snowball sampling relies on referrals from participants to recruit more participants, which may not necessarily fulfill predefined criteria. Each of these methods has its own advantages, but they do not specifically focus on selecting individuals based solely on predetermined characteristics as quota sampling does.