What is population and sample in resrarch methodology

In research methodology, population refers to the entire group of individuals or objects that possess the characteristics being studied. It is the broader group from which a sample is drawn. The population is the target group to which the research findings are intended to be generalized.

On the other hand, a sample is a smaller subset or a representative portion of the population that is selected for study. It is used to make inferences or generalizations about the larger population. Sampling is a technique used to choose a sample from the population in order to reduce cost, time, and effort in data collection.

The selection of a representative sample is crucial in research as it allows researchers to draw conclusions about the population based on the characteristics observed in the sample. The sample should ideally be representative of the entire population to avoid any bias or misleading results.