What Is a Representative Sample in Psychology?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Use a Representative Sample?Potential ChallengesObtaining a SampleExamplesWhy It’s Important

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Use a Representative Sample?

Potential Challenges

Obtaining a Sample

Examples

Why It’s Important

A representative sample is a group that closely matches the characteristics of its population as a whole. In other words, the sample is a fairly accurate reflection of the population from which thesampleis drawn.

For example, if the total population of the group was made up of 2 women and 20 men, researchers could draw a representative of 6 women and 6 men.

Why does this matter? What impact does a representative sample have on research? Let’s take a closer look at some of the key reasons scientists use this important technique in their research.

At a GlanceA representative sample is a smaller subset of a larger groups that accurately reflects specific characteristics of that population. Such samples can help researchers draw insights about the larger group.

At a Glance

A representative sample is a smaller subset of a larger groups that accurately reflects specific characteristics of that population. Such samples can help researchers draw insights about the larger group.

When collecting data for psychological studies, researchers rarely gather information from every single member of a particular population. There are some instances where it is important to collect data from every member of a population (the U.S. Census is one example).

A representative sample can help:

Challenges of Getting a Representative Sample

While it may sound fairly straightforward, obtaining a truly representative sample can be quite challenging and requires a great deal of time and effort.

One of the first issues that researchers face is trying to get a smaller sample of participants that truly reflects what is going on in the larger population.

The larger the sample is, the more likely it will accurately reflect what exists in the population. Imagine, for example, that you were trying to create a sample that accurately represented the entire population of the United States.

If your sample is too small, you won’t be able to represent the variety of people present.To obtain a truly representative sample, you might need to gather information from a fairly large pool of individuals.

Factors That Play a RoleA few different factors can impact the representativeness of a sample. Sampling bias, which involves flawed participant selection procedures, is one common source of problems. In other cases, non-participation or refusal can affect the ability of researchers to draw a truly representative sample.

Factors That Play a Role

A few different factors can impact the representativeness of a sample. Sampling bias, which involves flawed participant selection procedures, is one common source of problems. In other cases, non-participation or refusal can affect the ability of researchers to draw a truly representative sample.

How Are Representative Samples Obtained?

In psychology, a representative sample is a selected segment of a group that closely parallels the population as a whole in terms of the keyvariablesunder examination. So your sample would vary depending on what your topic of research or population of interest is.

For example, if women make up roughly half of the total population, a sample should be made up of approximately 50% of women in order to be representative.

Random samplingis often used to obtain a representative sample from a larger group.This involvesrandomly selectingwho will be in the sample. Every member of the population stands an equal chance of being selected.

Examples of Representative Samples in Psychology

Imagine that researchers want to look at differences in eye color in the United States. In order to obtain a representative sample, they need to look at what percentage of U.S. citizens share certain qualities such as ethnic background and gender and ensure that their sample accurately reflects those numbers.

Other examples of how representative samples are used in psychology research include:

Why Representative Samples Are Important

Representative samples are particularly important when it comes to studying health. Imagine if scientists wanted to study the prevalence of a particular disease in the population at large.

If researchers were to rely on a non-representative sample, they might reach conclusions that do not accurately reflect what is really going on in the world.

This might ultimately affect how much further research is devoted to the study of that illness. It can also impact how much funding might be available for additional research into prevention and treatment.

What This Means For YouWhen it comes to psychology research, representative selection can help researchers make sure that all people are accurately represented in their findings. This can play an essential role in shaping approaches to mental health and public policies that impact different groups.

What This Means For You

When it comes to psychology research, representative selection can help researchers make sure that all people are accurately represented in their findings. This can play an essential role in shaping approaches to mental health and public policies that impact different groups.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rudolph JE, Zhong Y, Duggal P, Mehta SH, Lau B.Defining representativeness of study samples in medical and population health research.BMJ Med. 2023;2(1):e000399. doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000399Elfil M, Negida A.Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review.Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e52.van Hoeven LR, Janssen MP, Roes KC, Koffijberg H.Aiming for a representative sample: Simulating random versus purposive strategies for hospital selection.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15:90. doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0089-8Martínez-Mesa J, González-Chica DA, Duquia RP, Bonamigo RR, Bastos JL.Sampling: how to select participants in my research study?An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(3):326-330. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254Additional ReadingU.S. Census Bureau. Quick Facts: United States; 2015.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rudolph JE, Zhong Y, Duggal P, Mehta SH, Lau B.Defining representativeness of study samples in medical and population health research.BMJ Med. 2023;2(1):e000399. doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000399Elfil M, Negida A.Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review.Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e52.van Hoeven LR, Janssen MP, Roes KC, Koffijberg H.Aiming for a representative sample: Simulating random versus purposive strategies for hospital selection.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15:90. doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0089-8Martínez-Mesa J, González-Chica DA, Duquia RP, Bonamigo RR, Bastos JL.Sampling: how to select participants in my research study?An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(3):326-330. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254Additional ReadingU.S. Census Bureau. Quick Facts: United States; 2015.

Rudolph JE, Zhong Y, Duggal P, Mehta SH, Lau B.Defining representativeness of study samples in medical and population health research.BMJ Med. 2023;2(1):e000399. doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000399Elfil M, Negida A.Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review.Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e52.van Hoeven LR, Janssen MP, Roes KC, Koffijberg H.Aiming for a representative sample: Simulating random versus purposive strategies for hospital selection.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15:90. doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0089-8Martínez-Mesa J, González-Chica DA, Duquia RP, Bonamigo RR, Bastos JL.Sampling: how to select participants in my research study?An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(3):326-330. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254

Rudolph JE, Zhong Y, Duggal P, Mehta SH, Lau B.Defining representativeness of study samples in medical and population health research.BMJ Med. 2023;2(1):e000399. doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000399

Elfil M, Negida A.Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review.Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e52.

van Hoeven LR, Janssen MP, Roes KC, Koffijberg H.Aiming for a representative sample: Simulating random versus purposive strategies for hospital selection.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15:90. doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0089-8

Martínez-Mesa J, González-Chica DA, Duquia RP, Bonamigo RR, Bastos JL.Sampling: how to select participants in my research study?An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(3):326-330. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254

U.S. Census Bureau. Quick Facts: United States; 2015.

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At a Glance#

Challenges of Getting a Representative Sample#

Factors That Play a Role#

How Are Representative Samples Obtained?#

Examples of Representative Samples in Psychology#

Why Representative Samples Are Important#

What This Means For You#