- Population examples
- 1- Population of a university
- 2- Animal population in an area
- 3- Population of inhabitants in a country
- 4- Population of products in an assembly line
- 5- Car population in a factory
- Sample examples
- 1- First year students
- 2- Threatened animal species
- 3- Voters
- 4- Products tested
- 5- Cars with double traction
- References
The population and the sample correspond to a statistical concept that seeks to focus attention on a specific subgroup within a larger universe of individuals.
Most investigations to collect information on any population of objects, people or animals, usually work with a sample.
As a sample is a much smaller percentage with respect to the total population (it does not usually exceed 20%), it is easier to examine and investigate given the small number of individuals.
Samples are used in many social studies and for quality checks in companies that mass produce items.
Population examples
A population is a finite or infinite group of objects, animals, or people that share a common characteristic.
Populations can be found in any context and depending on this their size is capable of ranging from a few dozen to several million. Some examples of populations are:
1- Population of a university
The total number of people who study or work at a university make up a population.
It is also possible to refer only to students, which is more common. It is perhaps the most classic example, since in the universities where statistics are taught, students are the closest and most well-known population to analyze.
2- Animal population in an area
In many parks and nature reserves, the total population of animals is controlled to prevent them from depleting their food sources or their territories.
3- Population of inhabitants in a country
It is the best known example at a general level, due to the censuses carried out every several years by governments to measure the growth or decline in communities throughout a nation.
It is an important piece of information for the calculation of various socioeconomic indicators.
4- Population of products in an assembly line
To measure the production capacity of a machine or assembly line.
5- Car population in a factory
Also applicable to any item that is mass-produced, it allows you to know the total number of items in inventory.
Sample examples
A sample is a finite subset of elements belonging to a larger set. They share certain characteristics that differentiate them slightly from the general population.
Some sample examples (taking as a population the examples presented above):
1- First year students
Within the population of all students in an educational campus, only those in the first year can be taken.
2- Threatened animal species
Considering the animals that inhabit a certain area, a sample could be those in danger of extinction.
3- Voters
Before any electoral process, the media usually conduct polls to make projections about the most popular candidate.
Being able to interview only a very small percentage of the total, this represents a sample of the voting population.
4- Products tested
Any company that produces products in bulk usually selects a small sample to undergo tests to ensure the quality of the manufacture.
5- Cars with double traction
To develop a detailed inventory of the total population of a car lot, a sample of four-wheel drive cars could be taken.
References
- Population and sample (sf). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from INTEF.
- Sample types (statistics) (nd). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Types of.
- Population and sample (sf). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Universidad de La Punta.
- What is the Difference Between Population and Sample? (sf). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Statistics Solutions.
- Populations and Samples (nd). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Stat Trek.