Representativeness
This entry discusses the concept of representativeness and its importance in social and behavioral science research. In conducting such research, it is desirable but usually not possible to study an entire population; in consequence, researchers sample from the population and then generalize findings of the research based on the sample to the population. The analytic sample is thus supposed to represent the population. It is important to know whom a study sample represents to evaluate implications of the study and findings. Who is represented in a study’s sample frames the study.
The best samples are called probability samples; these incorporate some form of random selection into their sampling procedure, so it is straightforward to discern whom the sample represents. By design, a ...
Looks like you do not have access to this content.
Reader's Guide
Assessment
Cognitive and Affective Variables
Data Visualization Methods
Disabilities and Disorders
Distributions
Educational Policies
Evaluation Concepts
Evaluation Designs
Human Development
Instrument Development
Organizations and Government Agencies
Professional Issues
Publishing
Qualitative Research
Research Concepts
Research Designs
Research Methods
Research Tools
Social and Ethical Issues
Social Network Analysis
Statistics
Teaching and Learning
Theories and Conceptual Frameworks
Threats to Research Validity
- All
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
Research Methods
