What is a representative sample, and why is it important?

Choose the correct answer below.

A.

A representative sample is a sample where the members of the sample differ in some specific way from the members of the general population. Each representative sample is important because it offers a different representation of the population.

B.

A representative sample is a sample in which the relevant characteristics of the sample members are generally the same as the characteristics of the population. This type of sample is important because only a representative sample can be used to make trustworthy inferences about the population.

C.

A representative sample is a sample that represents one feature of a population more strongly than another. It's useful for studying a specific trait of a population but can lead to misleading inferences about other traits of the population.

D.

A representative sample is a sample in which all of the relevant members of the population are sampled. This type of sample is important because it gives complete knowledge about all members of the population who have the relevant trait.