Choose Samples That Match a Question

Distinguish a target population from a convenient sample.

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Define the group the question concerns. Ask who could enter the sample and who was excluded. A large sample can still be biased if selection systematically misses parts of the population.

Worked example

Asking only students in an art club does not necessarily represent the whole school's favorite subjects, even if every club member answers.

1. The question concerns all students in a school. What is the target population? Only volunteers in one club All students in that school Only teachers

2. Which sample is most directly selected to represent that population? Only students beside the gym Only friends of the interviewer A random selection from the complete student list

3. Does increasing the size of an art-club-only sample remove the selection problem? No, it still excludes other students Yes, any large sample is unbiased Yes, group membership cannot matter

4. Why record a low response rate? It proves all responses are false Nonrespondents may differ from respondents It makes the population smaller by definition

5. Which conclusion should remain cautious? Every volunteer poll proves a universal preference Sample size alone guarantees accuracy A voluntary poll may not represent all students

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