what is a representative sample 
a representative sample is a subset of a population that seeks to accurately reflect the characteristics of the larger group for example a classroom of 30 students with 15 males and 15 females could generate a representative sample that might include six students three males and three females samples are useful in statistical analysis when population sizes are large because they contain smaller manageable versions of the larger group investopedia danie drankwalterunderstanding representative samplessampling is used in statistical analysis methodologies to gain insights and observations about a population group statisticians can use a variety of sampling methods to build samples that seek to meet the goals of their research studies representative samples are one type of sampling method this method uses stratified random sampling to help identify its components other methods can include random sampling and systematic sampling a representative sample seeks to choose components that match with key characteristics in the entire population being examined statisticians can choose the representative characteristics that they feel best meet their research goals typically representative sample characteristics are focused on demographic categories some examples of key characteristics can include sex age education level socioeconomic status and marital status generally the larger the population being examined the more characteristics that may arise for consideration types of sampling methodschoosing a sampling method can depend on a variety of factors representative samples are usually an ideal choice for sampling analysis because they are expected to yield insights and observations that closely align with the entire population group 