How is population and sample be written in research methodology
In research methodology, population and sample are typically discussed in the context of sampling techniques and study design.
Population refers to the entire group of individuals or objects that the researcher wants to target or study. It represents the larger target group from which the sample is drawn. For example, if a researcher wants to study the effects of a new drug on adults aged 65 and above, the population would be all adults aged 65 and above.
Sample, on the other hand, is a subset of the population that is selected for the purpose of studying and making inferences about the entire population. The sample is a representative group that should ideally reflect the characteristics of the population. In the previous example, if the researcher selects 500 adults aged 65 and above from various locations, those 500 individuals would constitute the sample.
In research reports or academic papers, population and sample are usually defined and described in the methodology section. This section provides details on how the sample was selected, the criteria used to define the population, and the sampling technique employed (e.g., random sampling, stratified sampling, convenience sampling). The size of the sample may also be mentioned, along with any limitations or biases associated with the sample selection process.