Which term describes a defined group serving as the subject of a study?

Which term describes a defined group serving as the subject of a study?

• A. Population
• B. Random sample
• C. Field Research
• D. Operational Definition

Answer: (A)

In sociological research, the population is the defined group that you want to learn about and draw conclusions from. It sets the scope of the study—who you’re interested in describing or explaining. For example, if you’re studying the attitudes of all high school students in a district, that district’s high school students constitute the population. A random sample is a subset drawn from that population to represent it, helping you generalize findings without surveying everyone. Field research refers to the method of collecting data in natural settings, not the group itself. An operational definition explains how a concept will be measured, providing observable criteria, not identifying the group being studied.

In sociological research, the population is the defined group that you want to learn about and draw conclusions from. It sets the scope of the study—who you’re interested in describing or explaining. For example, if you’re studying the attitudes of all high school students in a district, that district’s high school students constitute the population.

A random sample is a subset drawn from that population to represent it, helping you generalize findings without surveying everyone. Field research refers to the method of collecting data in natural settings, not the group itself. An operational definition explains how a concept will be measured, providing observable criteria, not identifying the group being studied.