Representative vs. Random Samples: Key Differences Explained

Learn how representative samples and random samples differ and why combining them minimizes sampling bias for accurate data.
Kellogg School of Management

The Fundamental Concept

Consider a population of 70 individuals, for which you wish to estimate the mean annual income, μ. Assume that you have decided to use the following estimation procedure to make your estimate: simple ...
JSTOR Daily

Statistical Error Decomposition of Regional-Scale Climatological Precipitation Estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol. 46, No. 6 (June 2007), pp. 791-813 (23 pages) ABSTRACT Monthly rainfall estimates inferred from the NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) ...

Representative Samples: What Percentage of the Population Is Needed?

Discover how to determine the ideal percentage of a population for a representative sample to ensure accurate data analysis with minimal sampling error.
National Academies of Sciences%2c Engineering%2c and Medicine

Estimating Water Use in the United States: A New Paradigm for the National Water-Use Information Program

Several states with extensive water use databases rely upon the census approach. That is, data are collected for all water users withdrawing amounts greater than a specified threshold that varies from ...