stratified sample

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Word: Stratified Sample

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "stratified sample" is a method used in research where a population (a group of people or things) is divided into smaller groups called "strata." Then, researchers randomly select samples from each stratum to ensure that all parts of the population are represented.

Explanation:

Imagine you have a big box of different colored candies. You want to ensure you have a good mix of colors in your sample. To do this, you could first separate the candies by color (this is the "strata"). Then, you take a few candies from each color group randomly. This way, you get a fair representation of all the colors in your sample.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "stratified sample" when discussing research or surveys where it's important to include different subgroups of a larger population.
• It is often used in statistics, social sciences, and market research.

Example:

"In our study on student preferences, we used a stratified sample by dividing students into groups based on their grade levels and then selecting random students from each grade."

Advanced Usage:

• In advanced research, stratified sampling can help improve the accuracy of results by ensuring that all subgroups are adequately represented. This is particularly useful when certain groups might be underrepresented in a simple random sample.

Word Variants:

• Stratum (noun): A single layer or group in the stratified sample.
• Stratification (noun): The process of dividing the population into strata.

Different Meaning:

• "Stratified" can also refer to something being arranged in layers, such as geological strata (different layers of rock).

Synonyms:

• Layered sample
• Grouped sample

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "stratified sample," but you might encounter related phrases like "divide and conquer," which means to break a problem into smaller parts to solve it more effectively.

Summary:

A "stratified sample" is a valuable research tool that helps ensure all parts of a population are included in a study.

Academic

Noun

1. the population is divided into strata and a random sample is taken from each stratum

Synonyms

• representative sample
• proportional sample