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As a researcher, the decision to study an entire population versus a sample depends on various factors such as resources, feasibility and the research question's
As a researcher, the decision to study an entire population versus a sample depends on various factors such as resources, feasibility and the research question's scope. Studying an entire population is advantageous when the population is small or easily accessible, ensuring comprehensive insights without the need for extrapolation. It's also beneficial when the research aims to provide precise estimates or when the population is homogeneous, reducing the risk of sampling error. Conversely, studying a sample is preferable when the population is large or inaccessible, making it impractical to study everyone. Samples are also useful for generalizing findings to larger populations efficiently and cost-effectively. Research questions and hypotheses that explore broad phenomena or seek to establish general trends are well-suited for studying entire populations. On the other hand, questions requiring in-depth analysis or examining specific subsets of a population may be better addressed through sampling. For example, consider the hypothesis: "Increased exposure to social media (independent variable) leads to higher levels of anxiety (dependent variable) among teenagers (population)." This hypothesis suggests a study of the entire teenage population to understand the relationship between social media usage and anxiety levels comprehensively
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