Student Resources Study Guides and Tips What Is a Representative Sample in Psychology? By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 30, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by James Lacy Fact checked by James Lacy James Lacy, MLS, is a fact-checker and researcher. Learn about our editorial process Print Patrick George / Ikon Images / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Why Use a Representative Sample? Potential Challenges Obtaining a Sample Examples Why It's Important Trending Videos Close this video player A representative sample is a group that closely matches the characteristics of its population as a whole. In other words, the sample is a fairly accurate reflection of the population from which the sample is drawn. For example, if the total population of the group was made up of 2 women and 20 men, researchers could draw a representative of 6 women and 6 men. Why does this matter? What impact does a representative sample have on research? Let's take a closer look at some of the key reasons scientists use this important technique in their research. At a Glance A representative sample is a smaller subset of a larger groups that accurately reflects specific characteristics of that population. Such samples can help researchers draw insights about the larger group. Why Use a Representative Sample? When collecting data for psychological studies, researchers rarely gather information from every single member of a particular population. There are some instances where it is important to collect data from every member of a population (the U.S. Census is one example). A representative sample can help: Ensure that the data collected presents an accurate picture of what is happening in a certain populationMinimize the risk of bias by including people from different groupsProvide valuable information that can be used to develop specific interventions or programs for those who need it Challenges of Getting a Representative Sample While it may sound fairly straightforward, obtaining a truly representative sample can be quite challenging and requires a great deal of time and effort. One of the first issues that researchers face is trying to get a smaller sample of participants that truly reflects what is going on in the larger population. The larger the sample is, the more likely it will accurately reflect what exists in the population. Imagine, for example, that you were trying to create a sample that accurately represented the entire population of the United States. If your sample is too small, you won't be able to represent the variety of people present. To obtain a truly representative sample, you might need to gather information from a fairly large pool of individuals. Factors That Play a Role A few different factors can impact the representativeness of a sample. Sampling bias, which involves flawed participant selection procedures, is one common source of problems. In other cases, non-participation or refusal can affect the ability of researchers to draw a truly representative sample. How Are Representative Samples Obtained? In psychology, a representative sample is a selected segment of a group that closely parallels the population as a whole in terms of the key variables under examination. So your sample would vary depending on what your topic of research or population of interest is. For example, if women make up roughly half of the total population, a sample should be made up of approximately 50% of women in order to be representative. Random sampling is often used to obtain a representative sample from a larger group. This involves randomly selecting who will be in the sample. Every member of the population stands an equal chance of being selected. Examples of Representative Samples in Psychology Imagine that researchers want to look at differences in eye color in the United States. In order to obtain a representative sample, they need to look at what percentage of U.S. citizens share certain qualities such as ethnic background and gender and ensure that their sample accurately reflects those numbers. Other examples of how representative samples are used in psychology research include: Samples that include people of various socioeconomic statuses to determine how a variable affects people of different income and education levels Samples that include a proportionate amount of people from different geographic regions to determine how attitudes differ based on the region a person is from Samples that include a proportionate number of participants from different age groups to see how age influences certain characteristics or measures Samples that include a proportionate number of people from ethnic, racial, or sexual minorities to ensure that those groups are accurately reflected in the data Why Representative Samples Are Important Representative samples are particularly important when it comes to studying health. Imagine if scientists wanted to study the prevalence of a particular disease in the population at large. If researchers were to rely on a non-representative sample, they might reach conclusions that do not accurately reflect what is really going on in the world. This might ultimately affect how much further research is devoted to the study of that illness. It can also impact how much funding might be available for additional research into prevention and treatment. What This Means For You When it comes to psychology research, representative selection can help researchers make sure that all people are accurately represented in their findings. This can play an essential role in shaping approaches to mental health and public policies that impact different groups. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rudolph JE, Zhong Y, Duggal P, Mehta SH, Lau B. Defining representativeness of study samples in medical and population health research. BMJ Med. 2023;2(1):e000399. doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000399 Elfil M, Negida A. Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review. Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e52. van Hoeven LR, Janssen MP, Roes KC, Koffijberg H. Aiming for a representative sample: Simulating random versus purposive strategies for hospital selection. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2015;15:90. doi:10.1186/s12874-015-0089-8 Martínez-Mesa J, González-Chica DA, Duquia RP, Bonamigo RR, Bastos JL. Sampling: how to select participants in my research study? An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(3):326-330. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20165254 Additional Reading U.S. Census Bureau. Quick Facts: United States; 2015. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? 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