Which term describes selecting a smaller group from a larger population for study?

Which term describes selecting a smaller group from a larger population for study?

• A. Qualitative
• B. Quantitative
• C. Collocation
• D. Sampling

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is the act of choosing a subset to study. This is called sampling. By selecting a smaller group from a larger population, researchers can investigate manageable data and make inferences about the whole group. Random or stratified sampling, for example, helps reduce bias so the results can generalize beyond just the individuals studied. The other terms don’t fit the action described. Qualitative describes the type of data—descriptive, non-numeric—rather than the process of selecting people or cases. Quantitative involves numeric data and measurement, not the act of choosing a subset. Collocation is a linguistic term about how words tend to occur together in language.

The main idea here is the act of choosing a subset to study. This is called sampling. By selecting a smaller group from a larger population, researchers can investigate manageable data and make inferences about the whole group. Random or stratified sampling, for example, helps reduce bias so the results can generalize beyond just the individuals studied.

The other terms don’t fit the action described. Qualitative describes the type of data—descriptive, non-numeric—rather than the process of selecting people or cases. Quantitative involves numeric data and measurement, not the act of choosing a subset. Collocation is a linguistic term about how words tend to occur together in language.