In population sampling methods, what is the primary difference between a population and a sample?

• A. A population refers only to nonliving components of an ecosystem, whereas a sample refers to living organisms.
• B. A population is the group actually measured, whereas a sample is the entire group about which conclusions are made.
• C. A population includes all individuals of interest in a study, whereas a sample is a subset of that population used for analysis.
• D. A population is a subset selected from a sample, whereas a sample includes all individuals of interest.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of a population in biological studies. A population includes all individuals of a particular species or group that are of interest in a specific study or research question.
2. Step 2: Understand the definition of a sample. A sample is a smaller subset of individuals selected from the population, which is used to collect data and make inferences about the entire population.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the population is the complete set of individuals, while the sample is a manageable portion chosen to represent the population in research.
4. Step 4: Note that the purpose of sampling is to draw conclusions about the population without having to study every individual, which is often impractical or impossible.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the primary difference is that the population includes all individuals of interest, whereas the sample is a subset of that population used for analysis.