Sampling, Estimation, and External Validity

Vocabulary flashcards covering sampling strategies, sample statistics, parameters, external validity, and representativeness based on the lecture notes.

Population of interest

The entire group of individuals meeting specific inclusion criteria that researchers want to study (for example, all Americans over the age of $25$ who earned a Bachelor's degree).

Sample statistic

A number calculated directly from a sample, such as a sample median of approximately $\text{\$65,000}$, used to summarize sample observations.

Parameter

The true numerical value that would have been obtained if data had been gathered from every single member of the population of interest.

Estimate

The value adopted as a stand-in for the actual value of a population parameter.

Generalization

The inference made by deciding to use a sample statistic as an estimate for the population parameter.

External validity

The degree to which a sampling strategy supports making a generalization inference.

Representativeness

The extent to which the observations in a sample are like the observations in the population of interest in terms of important underlying baseline characteristics.