sample
sampleA random selection of examples of a class of objects, whose characteristics are used to infer those of the whole class. Sampling is used where it would be impossible, too slow, or too costly to examine all the class. A sample may simply be picked at random from a list of possible cases: for example, electoral polls use samples drawn from electoral registers. A quota sample tries to improve the efficiency or decrease the cost of sampling by using a sample selected to represent different sections of the population being sampled, for example including people in various sex and age groups, in the same proportions as the overall population. The reliability of inferences from samples to the whole population increases with the size of the sample, but normally considerably less than in proportion to sample size. See also quota sample, and random sample.
[The entire page is 159 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Oxford University Press Titles
