Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A sample refers to a smaller group of individuals that are selected from a larger population in order to represent and generalize findings about the entire population.
A representative sample accurately reflects the characteristics and diversity of the population being studied.
Random Sampling: Random sampling involves selecting participants for a study in such a way that each individual in the population has an equal chance of being chosen.
Sampling bias occurs when certain individuals or groups have a higher or lower chance of being selected for the study, leading to results that may not be representative of the overall population.