Random selection is a precise, scientific procedure whereby each unit in a population has an equal chance of selection for inclusion in a sample. This concept underlies the premise of probability sampling and is central to probability methodologies and generalizability. Random selection eliminates sampling selection bias but introduces random error in its place. Random selection is the only valid strategy for obtaining a representative sample in research.

Random Selection and Probability Sampling

Probability theory, which emerged in response to a desire to better understand card games and gambling, is the branch of mathematics dealing with how to estimate the chance that events will occur. In probability theory, the probability of something occurring is usually expressed as the ratio between the number of ways an event can happen ...

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