a sample of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sample of students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a subset of students selected for a study, survey, or analysis. Example: "The research was conducted using a sample of students from various backgrounds to ensure diversity in the findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Scores from a sample of students could reveal instructional quality.

The New York Times

That test is periodically given to a sample of students in designated grades in both public and private schools.

The New York Times

But, as a condition of receiving federal money, states would have to evaluate a sample of students with tests known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The New York Times

Opinions from a sample of students about their participation in the exercise were sought using a structured questionnaire.

Nurse Education in Practice

The performance of the system was validated and evaluated by a sample of students in order to determine its functionality.

Procedia Technology

Or we could introduce standardised testing for a sample of students from each department at each university as a way of benchmarking standards and degree classifications.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some said the drop might be a result of the fact that the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests a sample of students rather than the entire district.

The New York Times

Researchers recently compared New York State's tests to the federally sponsored National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is periodically given to a sample of students in designated grades.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Then look at a sample of student work to get a feel for student mistakes.

University of California, Berkeley

A sample of student projects are shown as rotating images on some pages.

Duke University

Mr. Klein called the federal scores "supplementary" ways to measure school improvement, because the national assessment was given only every two years and tested only a sampling of students.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research methodology, clearly define how the "a sample of students" was selected to ensure transparency and replicability.

Common error

Avoid vague descriptions. Instead of just stating "a sample of students", specify the characteristics (e.g., age, grade level, demographics) and selection criteria of the sample to provide context and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sample of students" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific group selected from a larger student population for research or analysis. Ludwig shows its frequent occurrence in various academic and research contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sample of students" is a common noun phrase used to denote a subset of students selected for a specific purpose, often in research or analysis. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and prevalent across various domains, including science, news media, and formal business contexts.

Key takeaways include:

• The phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.
• It serves to specify the source of data or information.
• It maintains a formal and scientific tone, suitable for scholarly communication.
• Related phrases include "a selection of students" and "a group of students", which can be used as alternatives depending on the specific context. The best practice is to clearly define how the "a sample of students" was selected, avoiding vague descriptions to ensure transparency and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a representative sample of students

Adds "representative" to emphasize that the sample accurately reflects the larger student population.

a selection of students

Replaces "sample" with "selection", emphasizing the act of choosing a subset.

a group of students

Uses "group" instead of "sample", indicating a collection of students.

a subset of students

Replaces "sample" with "subset", specifying that it's a portion of a larger set.

a portion of the students

Uses "portion" instead of "sample", denoting a part of the student body.

a cross-section of students

Indicates that the group represents a diverse range of students.

a segment of students

Uses "segment" to refer to a specific part of the student population.

selected students

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the selection process.

a study group of students

This alternative emphasizes the use of a group of students for a specific research purpose.

some students

A more general term indicating an unspecified number of students.

FAQs

How can I use "a sample of students" in a research paper?

When writing a research paper, use "a sample of students" to refer to the specific group of students you studied. For example, "Data was collected from "a sample of students" enrolled in introductory psychology courses".

What are some alternatives to "a sample of students"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a group of students", "a selection of students", or "a subset of students".

Is it more appropriate to say "a sample of students" or "the sample of students"?

Use "a sample of students" when referring to a general or unspecified sample. Use "the sample of students" when referring to a specific sample that has already been defined or mentioned.

What does it mean to collect data from "a sample of students"?

Collecting data from "a sample of students" means gathering information from a subset of the entire student population, typically to make inferences about the larger group. This approach is often used in research due to feasibility and cost-effectiveness.