What must we do in order to generalize results to a population?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Drawing a representative sample from the population of interest is essential to generalize results accurately. A representative sample is the one that mirrors the characteristics of the population and thus provides an unbiased estimate of parameters. This can be achieved through random sampling techniques, such as simple random sampling, stratified sampling, or cluster sampling. Ensuring operational definitions of variables is also necessary, but it is not sufficient to generalize the results. On the other hand, selecting a biased sample or oversampling subgroups can lead to inaccurate and invalid generalizations.

What Must We Do in Order to Generalize Results to a Population