Representative Sample

Sample in which the relative sizes of the subpopulation samples are selected in such a manner as to be equal to the relative sizes of the subpopulations. For example, when measuring the viewing audience of a particular television show, the audience is stratified into several subpopulations: income groups, age groups, vocational groups, and so on. Then random samples are drawn from the various strata in proportion to the relative sizes of the Replacement, Reconstruction, and Reproduction Cost.

Random sample that is a good indicator of the accuracy of the items in a population. The sample may or may not have a determinable error.