Representativeness: meaning, definitions and examples
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representativeness
[ˌreprɪˌzen.təˈtɪv.nəs ]
Definitions
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?
| 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.
|
| typicality |
This word is used in academic or descriptive contexts to talk about how well something exemplifies broader trends or norms.
|
| characteristic |
Use this word when describing a feature or quality that is typical and easily recognizable for a person or thing.
|
| typicalness |
Use this word in casual or conversational contexts to convey how something is ordinary or expected.
|
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.
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?
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
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.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The term comes from the Latin word 'repraesentare', meaning 'to show or display'.
- In Middle English, 'representen' was used to mean 'to represent or illustrate'.
- The suffix '-ness' indicates a state or quality, transforming the action of representing into a descriptive quality.
Psychology
- In cognitive psychology, representativeness is often linked to a heuristic used in decision-making, where people judge probabilities based on how much one thing resembles another.
- This heuristic can lead to cognitive biases, such as overgeneralizing from a small sample to a larger population.
- Representativeness plays a crucial role in how people form stereotypes and make judgments about groups.
Statistics
- In statistics, a sample is considered representative if it accurately reflects the characteristics of the population from which it is drawn.
- A non-representative sample can lead to skewed data and misleading conclusions, impacting research outcomes.
- Methods such as stratified sampling are used to ensure that all relevant subgroups of a population are represented in a study.
Culture
- Cultural representation in media often invokes discussions about representativeness in the portrayal of different groups and identities.
- Films and literature strive for representativeness to provide authentic and relatable characters, improving audience engagement.
- The push for diverse representation reflects societal values and promotes inclusivity and understanding of various cultures.
Education
- In educational settings, representativeness is essential when discussing curriculum content that reflects the diversity of student backgrounds.
- Assessment tools must be representative to effectively measure student learning without bias.
- Teacher training programs increasingly emphasize the need for representativeness in teaching materials to engage all students.
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