Population Samples

When conducting research in psychology, you'll find that researchers need to choose a sample based on the population samples the researcher intends to make conclusions/ inferences about. In this explanation, we'll explore the differences between population and samples and understand their purposes in research. 

Get started

Review generated flashcards

Sign up for free
You have reached the daily AI limit

Start learning or create your own AI flashcards

StudySmarter Editorial Team

Team Population Samples Teachers

  • 6 minutes reading time
  • Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team
Save Article Save Article
Contents
Contents
Table of contents

    Jump to a key chapter

      • We will start by learning about sampling psychology population.
      • Moving along to learn about sampling psychology populations, you will notice population and sample examples.
      • To finish off, we will uncover the difference between population and sample.

      Population samples, vector of a globe that is drawn based on many small human figures that are either frean indicating the ocean and green figures which indicate countries in the globe, StudySmarterthat is Population samples are the people on the planet that the researcher is investigating, freepik.com/gstdioimagen

      Population and Sample Examples

      In psychological research, you'll encounter two important terms: population and sample.

      The population is basically everyone or organism on the planet that the researcher is interested in investigating. Meanwhile, a sample is the group of people who participate in the experiment and whom the researcher collects the data from.

      It is next to impossible for a researcher to collect data from the entire population. Therefore, researchers need to recruit a sample representative of the population. When a sample is found to be representative, then the findings of the study can be considered to be generalisable. This means that the inferences made in the research are likely to be applicable to the target population.

      As we have mentioned previously, sampling refers to the process of selecting a group which will represent the population for the research project. In psychological research, we will usually look to learn about large groups of people who will share some common characteristics, which is defined as the target population.

      • Population: all residents of a nation represent the population.
      • Target population: people under the age of 16
      • Sample: the study recruited 100 people under the age of 16 across ten countries.

      Population samples, globe with magnifying glass inside the the magnifying glass you can see a country and four small image of pathogens, StudySmarterWhen carrying out research in psychology, researchers need to recruit a sample that is representative of the target population, freepik.com/studiogstock

      Sampling Psychology Population

      When recruiting participants for research, the researcher needs to consider different types of populations. These will affect the sample recruited.

      From the population (humans on the planet), researchers will determine a target population based on the hypothesis/ research question that they are investigating (such as people over the age of 65 with dementia). The researcher may then advertise their research to see who is available to participate in the experiment (this is known as the accessible population). A sampling method, such as a random sample, will be used to recruit a representative sample.

      Random Sampling Definition in Psychology

      Random sampling is a type of probability sampling where every individual of the entire target population owns an equal chance to be selected. When choosing random sampling, there's a requirement of naming or numbering the target population and potentially using a raffle method to choose and select individuals that will be part of the sample.

      Other methods apart from raffles such as number generators, as long as participants have an equal chance to be selected in the study.

      Random sampling is considered the best method to select a sample for research from the population of interest. In terms of advantages, any form of sampling bias will be eliminated, considering that your sample represents the target population. On the other hand, the disadvantage of random sampling is that it is hard to achieve due to the time, effort and money spent on this type of sampling method.

      If you think about the national lottery, for example, if the population represents everyone who has a lottery ticket, then everyone in the population has an equal chance of winning the prize.

      Difference Between Population and Sample Psychology

      Population and samples have different uses in research, and the type used is determined by whether it is possible to investigate the entire population or not.

      Collecting data from the population

      Populations are used when the research questions need data from every single individual part of the population. It is straightforwards to gather data from the entire population when it's of small size, data/ participants are readily available and able to cooperate.

      A high school administrator would like to analyse the scores of final exams for all graduating seniors to check for a trend. Considering that they want to apply their results only to graduating seniors in that high school, they can use the entire population dataset.

      For larger populations, it is usually challenging to gather data from every single individual. An example is the US government and the US census every ten years. Historically, groups of people with a low income or minorities have been challenging to get in touch with. Therefore, the results have not always been accurate due to a lack of or incomplete responses. In these instances, sampling seems more appropriate to make accurate inferences about the population.

      Collecting data from a sample

      In the case of a large population, as we mentioned, it is more appropriate to use a sample. Through statistical analyses, the researcher can use sample data to test hypotheses.

      A researcher investigating the target population of 200,000 university students in France would need to select a representative sample as it is not practical to study all of these individuals. The researcher may recruit 200 students from three French universities - this sample will complete the tasks of the research project.


      Population samples - Key takeaways

      • In psychological research, you'll encounter two important terms: population and sample.
      • The population is basically everyone or organism on the planet that the researcher is interested in investigating. Meanwhile, a sample is the group of people who participate in the experiment and whom the researcher collects the data from.
      • When conducting research, it is important that the sample is representative so that the study's results can be generalised to the target population.
      • Random sampling is a type of probability sampling where every individual of the entire target population owns an equal chance to be selected.
      Frequently Asked Questions about Population Samples

      What is the difference between sample mean and population mean? 

      The sample mean is the average of the sample used in the experiment, whereas the population mean is the average of the population. 

      What is the difference between population and sample? 

      The population is basically everyone or organism on the planet that the researcher is interested in investigating. Meanwhile, a sample is the group of people who participate in the experiment and whom the researcher collects the data from. 

      What is the population sample definition psychology? 

      The population is basically everyone or organism on the planet that the researcher is interested in investigating. 

      What is an example of a sample and a population?

      • Population: all residents of a nation represent the population.
      • Target population: people under the age of 16 
      • Sample: the study recruited 100 people under the age of 16 across 10 countries.

      When to use population or sample standard deviation?

      Standard deviation is a measure used to learn about the spread of data in research. The population standard deviation would be calculated if the research was carried out on the entire population of interest. In contrast, the sample standard deviation would be used when the research was carried out on a sample. 

      Save Article

      Discover learning materials with the free StudySmarter app

      Sign up for free
      1
      About StudySmarter

      StudySmarter is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.

      Learn more
      StudySmarter Editorial Team

      Team Psychology Teachers

      • 6 minutes reading time
      • Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team
      Save Explanation Save Explanation

      Study anywhere. Anytime.Across all devices.

      Sign-up for free

      Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

      Join over 22 million students in learning with our StudySmarter App

      The first learning app that truly has everything you need to ace your exams in one place

      • Flashcards & Quizzes
      • AI Study Assistant
      • Study Planner
      • Mock-Exams
      • Smart Note-Taking
      Join over 22 million students in learning with our StudySmarter App
      Sign up with Email