1. Representativeness
Is the sample that we study a typical cross-section of the wider population from which it is taken?
Can the findings be used to make generalisations about the wider population?

2. Representativeness
In order to do any research we must have some participants The participants that we choose are called our sample If the researcher wants to make statements about a certain population his sample must be representative of that population

3. Proportion
This requires some maths A proportion is a share of the total Groups being studied should receive the same share of the sample as they occupy in the population

4. A national issue?
Imagine I wanted to know what the whole United Kingdom thought about an issue such as fox hunting, or fear of nuclear missiles I would need to know where everybody lived (how the population is distributed)

5. A national issue? A phd research project with 5,000 respondents
South East
8,634,750
13.67%
684
London 8,
12.94%
647
North West
7,052,177
11.16%
558
East of England
5,846,962
9.25%
463
West Midlands
5,601,847
8.87%
443
South West
5,288,935
8.36%
418
Yorkshire and the Humber
5,283,733
East Midlands
4,533,222
7.17%
358
North East
2,596,886
4.11%
206
Wales
3,063,456
4.85%
243
Scotland
5,295,000
8.38%
419
Northern Ireland
1,801,863
2.85%
143
Total
63,181,775
100%
5,000

6. Age
Age group
Population  %
Male (million)
Female (million)
Total (million)
0–14
5.681
5.419
11.100
17.6
15–64
20.751
20.953
41.704
66.0
65+
4.597
5.781
10.378
16.4
All ages
31.029
32.153
63.182
100
Researchers need to pay attention to the age of their respondents. If the age range must match the population if it is to be representative.

7. Examples
Van Houtte and Jarvis 1995 studies the effect that pet ownership had on self-esteem. They found that pet owners displayed a higher sense of self- esteem and autonomy in certain tests.
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Noah Bloom, 11, kisses his pet magpie goodbye before heading off to school. Named 'Penguin' simply because of her resemblance to the aquatic creature, the magpie has been part of the Bloom family since Daily Mail March 2015

8. Examples
They were very good results and very interesting. But they did not reflect the whole population. They were not very representative. Their sample was very small. 130 pupils (71 boys and 59 girls aged between 8 and 13) from one Illinois school
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Noah Bloom, 11, kisses his pet magpie goodbye before heading off to school. Named 'Penguin' simply because of her resemblance to the aquatic creature, the magpie has been part of the Bloom family since Daily Mail March 2015