Question
What is the definition of population in research?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In research, the term "population" refers to the entire group of individuals or items that share common characteristics and from which a sample may be drawn for study. This population is the focus of the research question and is defined by specific criteria relevant to the study, such as demographic characteristics, behaviors, or other attributes.
Populations can be broad or narrow, and can include human subjects, animals, organizations, events, or any definable collection of entities. Researchers often specify the target population (the specific group being studied) and the accessible population (the portion of the target population that can be practically sampled).
Understanding the population is crucial because it impacts the design of the study, the selection of the sample, and the generalizability of the research findings.
Populations can be broad or narrow, and can include human subjects, animals, organizations, events, or any definable collection of entities. Researchers often specify the target population (the specific group being studied) and the accessible population (the portion of the target population that can be practically sampled).
Understanding the population is crucial because it impacts the design of the study, the selection of the sample, and the generalizability of the research findings.