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What are the most important characteristics of a good sample in empirical social research?

In empirical social research, there are some important characteristics of a good sample to consider. Here are the most important characteristics:

Representativeness:

A good sample should be as accurate as possible in representing the population as a whole. This means that the characteristics of the sample (e.g., age, gender, education level) should be present in proportions similar to those of the entirety. This allows the results of the sample to be generalized to the entirety.

Random selection: Participants should be selected randomly to avoid bias. Random selection ensures that each member of the universe has an equal chance of being included in the sample. This can be achieved, for example, through random sampling or stratified random sampling.

Sufficient size: the sample should be large enough to produce meaningful results. The exact size depends on several factors, such as the research question, the research design, and the variance of the characteristics being studied. As a general rule, the larger the sample, the more accurate the results.

Homogeneity: The sample should be relatively homogeneous in terms of the characteristics being studied in order to make comparisons and analyses. If the sample is too heterogeneous, the results may be difficult to interpret.

Response rate: The sample should have a sufficiently high response rate, i.e., a high number of participants responding to the invitation to participate. A low response rate may introduce bias and affect the representativeness of the sample.

Completeness of data: A good sample should provide data that are as complete as possible. Missing data can affect the validity and significance of the results. Therefore, it is important to take steps to maximize data completeness.

Transparency.

Transparency: It should be transparent how the sample was selected and what criteria were used. This allows other researchers to assess representativeness and potential bias.

Transparency.

These characteristics of a good sample are important factors in obtaining reliable and meaningful results in empirical social research.