In research, to generalize one's findings to a total population, what is the most important quality that the sample must possess?
A) It must include at least 25 percent of the total population.
B) It must be representative of the total population.
C) It must consist of people who are selected and people who volunteer.
D) It must be quantitative in order to make comparisons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sample must be representative of the total population in order to generalize findings to the population as a whole. This means that the sample should have the same characteristics, such as age, gender, socio-economic status, etc., as the population it is trying to represent. The percentage of the population included in the sample and whether or not people are selected or volunteer are not as important as having a representative sample. Quantitative data is important for making comparisons, but it is not the most important quality for generalizing findings to a population.

In Research, to Generalize One's Findings to a Total Population