What is the practice of selecting a representative group for research purposes called?

The practice of selecting a representative group for research purposes is known as sampling. Sampling involves choosing a subset of individuals or items from a larger population to gather insights or draw conclusions about that population as a whole. It is a fundamental technique in research and statistics, allowing for more manageable data collection while still making valid inferences about the wider group.

When sampling is conducted effectively, it ensures that the selected group mirrors the characteristics of the entire population, which enhances the reliability of the research findings. By studying a smaller, manageable number of subjects, researchers can save time, reduce costs, and still obtain meaningful results that can inform their decisions.

In contrast to sampling, data analysis refers to the process of interpreting data to extract meaningful information, while data mining involves discovering patterns and relationships in large sets of data through advanced analytical techniques. A census entails collecting data from every member of the entire population, which, while comprehensive, can be impractical in many situations due to time and resource constraints. Thus, sampling is often preferred in research scenarios where the goal is to efficiently gather population insights.