Key Concepts:
- Random Sampling: A technique in which every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected, ensuring a representative sample.
- Population vs. Sample: The population includes all members of a group being studied, while a sample is a smaller subset selected from the population.
- Impact of Sample Selection on Generalization: If a sample is randomly selected, results can be generalized to the entire population; if biased, conclusions may not be valid beyond the sample.
Skills Covered:
- Identifying random vs. non-random sampling.
- Determining whether a study’s results can be generalized based on sampling methods.
Example Problem:
A researcher selects a group of 50 students at random from a university with 5,000 students to study study habits. To which group can the findings be generalized?
- A. The 50 students in the sample
- B. All students at the university
- C. Only students with similar study habits
- D. Students in the researcher’s class
- (Correct answer: B, because the sample was randomly selected from the entire university.)