In population sampling methods, how does a population differ from a sample?

• A. A population is always smaller than a sample because it excludes outliers, while a sample includes outliers.
• B. A population refers only to organisms in one habitat, while a sample refers to organisms across multiple habitats.
• C. A population is the subset selected for measurement, while a sample includes all individuals in the group of interest.
• D. A population includes all individuals in the group of interest, while a sample is a subset of that population used for measurement.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of a population in biology: it includes all individuals or organisms of a particular species or group that you are interested in studying.
2. Recognize that a sample is a smaller subset taken from the population, selected to represent the population for practical measurement or analysis.
3. Note that the population is the entire group, while the sample is used because studying the whole population is often impractical or impossible.
4. Remember that the sample should ideally be representative of the population to allow valid conclusions about the population based on the sample data.
5. Distinguish between the two by focusing on their scope: population = all individuals in the group of interest; sample = a subset of that population used for measurement.