SOC222H5 Chapter 7: Chapter 7—Sampling and Sampling Distributions
Document Summary
Understanding the aims of sampling and basic principles of probability. Understanding and applying the concept of the sampling distribution. Understanding the nature of the central limit theorem. Population a group that includes all the cases (individuals, objects, or groups) in which the researcher is interested. Sample a subset of cases selected from a population. Through the process of sampling selecting a subset of observations from the population of interest we attempt to generalize the characteristics of the larger group (population) based on what we learn from the smaller group (the sample). Parameter a measure (e. g. , mean or standard deviation) used to describe the population distribution. Statistic a measure (e. g. , mean or standard deviation) used to describe the sample distribution. The goal of most research is to find the population parameter. The major objective of sampling theory and statistical inference is to provide estimates of unknown parameters from sample statistics that can be easily obtained and calculated.
