Which of the following is a disadvantage of convenience sampling?

The option highlighting that convenience sampling may not represent the entire population is indeed a key disadvantage of this sampling method. Convenience sampling involves selecting a sample based on ease of access rather than on random selection from the entire population. This approach can lead to significant biases since the sample may reflect only a subset of the broader population, particularly if that subset has certain characteristics that differ from others.

For instance, if a researcher conducts surveys in a location where only certain types of individuals are present (like a university campus during specific hours), the results may skew towards the views or behaviors of that specific group and not accurately represent the diverse perspectives of the wider population. This can compromise the validity of the findings and limit the generalizability of the study's conclusions.

Other options indicate qualities or requirements of sampling methods that do not accurately capture the main shortcoming of convenience sampling. It does not inherently provide reliable data for large populations, nor is it particularly time-consuming or requiring complicated statistical methods. Therefore, the advantage of convenience sampling tends to be its ease of use, although with the trade-off of representativeness.