What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a sample instead of a population and vice versa?

What will be an ideal response?


A researcher’s decision whether to collect data for a population or for a sample is usually made on practical grounds. If time, money, and other costs were not considerations, it would almost always be better to collect data for a population, because we would then be sure that the observed cases accurately reflected the population characteristics of interest. However, in many if not most instances it is simply not possible or feasible to study an entire population. Imagine, for instance, the difficulty of attempting to interview every adult in even a small city. Since research is costly and time consuming, researchers must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using a population or a sample. The advantages of taking a sample are often savings in time and money. The disadvantage is that information based on a sample is usually less accurate or more subject to error than is information collected from a population.

Political Science

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The major category of fact that is observed in psychology is

A) the behavior of groups. B) the behavior of organisms. C) abnormal behavior. D) perceptual behavior.

Political Science

After World War II, a host of building projects resulted from

a. a major tax increase b. a de facto pro-growth policy. c. a new influx of immigrants. d. divided government.

Political Science

Which of the following statements concerning third parties is true?

A. The earliest third parties in the United States arose as a result of the Great Depression. B. Third parties almost always win at the national level. C. Third parties often have their programs adopted by one of the two major parties. D. Third parties are often long-lived.

Political Science

Summarize the functions of a head of state.

What will be an ideal response?

Political Science