What distinguishes a sample from a population in research?

A sample is defined as a smaller, representative subset of a larger group known as the population. This distinction is crucial in research because studying the entire population can be impractical or impossible due to constraints such as time, cost, or accessibility. By selecting a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population, researchers can make inferences and generalize their findings from the smaller group to the larger population with a certain level of confidence.

The choice that a sample is always larger than the population is misleading because that would contradict the very definition of what a sample is. Additionally, stating that a sample should include all individuals would imply that it is actually the population itself, which negates the need for sampling in the first place. Lastly, the idea that a sample is only qualitative overlooks the fact that samples can be quantitative as well, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Thus, the understanding of a sample as a smaller, representative subset is foundational to effective sociological research.