Sample
Definition
A subset of a population selected for study.
Example
A researcher is interested in voting behaviors of people in a particular country. The population consists of every citizen of the country. A sample of this population is studied in order to make the research manageable.
Why It Matters
Studying an entire population is usually impossible, so researchers use samples to make the work manageable. A well-chosen sample can represent the larger group and help researchers draw meaningful conclusions. If the sample is biased or too small, though, the results might not apply to anyone beyond the study.
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