AQA GCSE · Question 04 · Data Collection and Sampling Methods
Which of these sample sizes from a large population gives the most reliable sample?
Choose your answer.
Answer options:
A.
10
B.
20
C.
100
D.
500
How to approach this question
Consider the relationship between sample size and reliability. A reliable sample is one that is likely to be representative of the population. Think about whether a larger or smaller sample is more likely to reflect the characteristics of the whole population.
Full Answer
D.500✓ Correct
500
In statistics, a larger sample size generally leads to a more reliable and accurate representation of the population. This is because larger samples are less affected by random chance and outliers, and they tend to have a smaller margin of error. Of the options given (10, 20, 100, 500), 500 is the largest sample size and will therefore provide the most reliable results when sampling from a large population.
Common mistakes
✗ Thinking that a smaller sample might be better for some reason, for example, easier to manage. While true, ease of management does not equate to statistical reliability.
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