representative sample

Terms from Statistics for HCI: Making Sense of Quantitative Data

A small group who exhibit the typical characteristics of a larger group. Results from the study of a representative sample can be extrapolated to the larger group. Sometimes this sample may be chosen randomly, or may be deliberately chosen so as to ensure that important features such as gender, age or experience match those of the relevant population as a whole.

Used on pages 25, 75

Also known as representative