non-representative sample

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "non-representative sample" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in research and statistics to describe a sample that does not accurately reflect the characteristics of the larger population from which it is drawn. Example: "The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the use of a non-representative sample."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Twitter, for example, only represents a small, non-representative sample of the overall population [37].

EPJ Data Science

Furthermore, the RDS is a non-representative sample limiting the generalizability of these results.

Injury Epidemiology

After having an adequate and comprehensive measure, we employed it in a large Brazilian non-representative sample, investigated its psychometric properties and refined the scale from a 39-item to a 25-item version.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

Of course, such a retrospective and indirect account is not without limits – not only because it builds on a non-representative sample,3 related to a specific immigrant profile.

Comparative Migration Studies

Moreover, additional studies of transitivity in the health domain would be useful trying to overcome some of the obvious limitations of our study which include a non-representative sample of students and the small number of stimuli.

Health Economics Review

Treatment bias was simulated by deliberately excluding the permanent plots from being affected by forest loss or degradation that occurred elsewhere in the study area, leading to a non-representative sample.

Carbon Balance and Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Weight-loss trials tend to recruit highly selective, non-representative samples.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Two cases with different training samples (representative samples, non-representative samples, and training samples including representative and non-representative samples) and validation samples were set to compare the mapping results and accuracies.

Geoderma

This can result in non-representative sampling and increased probability of misinterpretation of the surface water quality status.

Chemosphere

Previous studies on community disasters tend to assess non-representative samples and use nonstandard measures of well-being.

Social Science & Medicine

However Loren Marks, a Louisiana State University sociologist, testified on Wednesday that the American Psychological Association report relied on studies with small and non-representative samples and that its "absolutist" tone clashed with the beliefs of some scientists.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing limitations of a study, explicitly state how the "non-representative sample" might influence the results. For example, mention which segments of the population are under- or over-represented and how this could skew the findings.

Common error

Avoid assuming that findings from a "non-representative sample" apply to the entire population. Always acknowledge the limited scope of the results and suggest further research with a more representative sample.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-representative sample" functions as a noun phrase, where 'non-representative' acts as an adjective modifying 'sample'. It describes a specific type of sample that fails to accurately reflect the characteristics of the population from which it's drawn. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used in research.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "non-representative sample" is frequently used in research to describe a sample that doesn't accurately reflect the broader population. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and usable. Occurring most commonly in scientific contexts, the phrase serves to acknowledge limitations in research methodology, cautioning against overgeneralization. To mitigate issues arising from "non-representative samples", researchers should clearly articulate the sample's limitations and avoid assuming applicability to the entire population. Using alternative terms such as "biased sample" or "unrepresentative sample" can add nuance to the discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biased sample

Focuses on the bias introduced by the sample.

unrepresentative sample

A direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of representation.

skewed sample

Highlights the distortion in the sample's composition.

selective sample

Implies that the sample was chosen using specific criteria, potentially leading to non-representation.

non-random sample

Indicates that the sample was not selected randomly, affecting its representativeness.

distorted sample

Emphasizes the degree to which the sample differs from the population.

non-probability sample

Technical term indicating that probability sampling methods were not used.

unbalanced sample

Suggests that certain groups are over- or under-represented.

non-proportionate sample

Implies that the sample does not mirror the proportions of subgroups in the population.

atypical sample

Highlights that the sample is not typical or characteristic of the broader population.

FAQs

What does it mean to have a "non-representative sample" in a study?

A "non-representative sample" means the participants in a study do not accurately reflect the characteristics of the larger population being studied. This limits how much the study's findings can be generalized.

Why is using a "non-representative sample" a problem in research?

Using a "non-representative sample" can lead to biased results because the sample's characteristics don't match those of the overall population. This can result in inaccurate conclusions about the population as a whole.

What are some alternatives to using a "non-representative sample"?

Alternatives include using a random sampling method, increasing the sample size, or employing stratification techniques to ensure the sample reflects the population's demographics. If these are not possible you can use a "purposive sample" and specify why.

How does a "non-representative sample" affect the validity of a research study?

A "non-representative sample" reduces the external validity of a study, meaning the results cannot be confidently applied to the broader population. This limits the study's impact and generalizability.