Why do statisticians use samples?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Feb 26, 2015

Samples are used when it would not be practical to gather data on an entire population. Provided a sample is unbiased (for example collecting data from some people coming out of the ladies' washroom would not be an unbiased sample of a country's population) a reasonably large sample will normally reflect the characteristics of the entire population.

Statisticians use samples to make statements or predictions about the general characteristics of a population .

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