Representativeness: meaning, definitions and examples

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representativeness

 

[ ˌreprɪˌzen.təˈtɪv.nəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in statistics

The quality of being typical or having the characteristics of a particular group, community, or population.

Synonyms

characteristic, typicality, typicalness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
representativeness

Use this in formal or technical contexts, especially in research or statistics, to describe how well a sample reflects the characteristics of the entire population.

  • The representativeness of the survey sample was questioned due to its small size.
  • Ensure the data's representativeness to draw reliable conclusions.
typicality

This word is used in academic or descriptive contexts to talk about how well something exemplifies broader trends or norms.

  • The painting's typicality helps in understanding the broader trends in Renaissance art.
  • Her reaction displayed the typicality of consumer behavior in such scenarios.
characteristic

Use this word when describing a feature or quality that is typical and easily recognizable for a person or thing.

  • His enthusiasm is a characteristic trait of his personality.
  • High-speed performance is a characteristic of this sports car.
typicalness

Use this word in casual or conversational contexts to convey how something is ordinary or expected.

  • The typicalness of his response surprised no one.
  • They discussed the typicalness of Monday morning traffic.

Examples of usage

  • Her sample size was not large enough to accurately capture the representativeness of the entire population.
  • The representativeness of the survey results was questioned due to the lack of diversity in the participants.
Context #2 | Noun

in psychology

The extent to which a sample represents the larger population from which it is drawn.

Synonyms

population representation, sampling adequacy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
representativeness

This term is commonly used in research and statistics to refer to how well a sample mirrors the larger population. It's useful when discussing the validity of a study's findings.

  • The representativeness of the sample ensures the study's results can be generalized to the entire population.
  • A key concern in survey design is the representativeness of the participants.
sampling adequacy

This term is used in research methodologies to refer to whether the sample size and quality are sufficient for the analysis. It is often linked to the validity and reliability of statistical inferences.

  • The sampling adequacy was evaluated using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure, which indicated the sample was adequate for factor analysis.
  • Researchers checked the sampling adequacy to ensure the sample was large enough to provide reliable results.
population representation

This phrase is typically used in discussions about demographics, polls, or studies to indicate whether the subjects included reflect the diversity and characteristics of the larger group.

  • To achieve accurate population representation, the survey included participants from various age groups and backgrounds.
  • Ensuring population representation in the sample helps generalize the results to the entire community.

Examples of usage

  • The psychologist emphasized the importance of ensuring the representativeness of the study sample for accurate results.
  • The representativeness of the study group was crucial for the validity of the research findings.

Translations

Translations of the word "representativeness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 representatividade

🇮🇳 प्रतिनिधित्व

🇩🇪 Repräsentativität

🇮🇩 representativitas

🇺🇦 репрезентативність

🇵🇱 reprezentatywność

🇯🇵 代表性

🇫🇷 représentativité

🇪🇸 representatividad

🇹🇷 temsilcilik

🇰🇷 대표성

🇸🇦 تمثيلية

🇨🇿 reprezentativnost

🇸🇰 reprezentatívnosť

🇨🇳 代表性

🇸🇮 reprezentativnost

🇮🇸 fulltrúi

🇰🇿 өкілдік

🇬🇪 წარმომადგენლობა

🇦🇿 nümayəndəlik

🇲🇽 representatividad

Etymology

The word 'representativeness' originated from the verb 'represent', which comes from the Latin word 're-' meaning 'again' and 'praesentare' meaning 'to present'. It first appeared in the mid-19th century in the context of statistics and psychology, referring to the quality of being typical or accurately representing a larger group. Over time, it has become a key concept in various fields such as research, marketing, and social sciences.

See also: misrepresent, represent, representable, representation, representational, representationalism, representations, representative, representatives, representing.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,467, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.