proportional sample
- noun
- /prəˈpɔrʧənl ˈsæmpl/
- Specialized
:
muestra proporcional
- The organization selected a proportional sample of participants from various income levels to analyze spending habits.
Examples
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For accurate results, the study required a proportional sample from different age groups to reflect the community's diversity.
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In research, a proportional sample is obtained by ensuring each subgroup is represented according to its size in the population.
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The poll surveyed proportional samples of Jews and Arabs, indicating that Jewish support for the war stands at upwards of 90 percent.
Blog text (18)
Synonyms
4
4.4
A small group chosen to show the larger group's main features
1
5.9
A method of dividing people into groups and randomly choosing from each group so the sample matches the whole group
Choose people from each group so their numbers match group sizes in the population
A sample made by dividing people into groups like age or income and choosing at random from each group
To choose people by dividing them into groups and picking random people from each group
How Representative
- Specialized
4
4.4
- Specialized
- Specialized
5
3.4
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a compositional noun phrase: 'proportional' describes the kind of 'sample' so a learner who knows 'proportional' (in proportion to sizes) and 'sample' (a portion taken for study) can infer it means a sample taken in proportion to group sizes. The construction is literal and follows standard adjective + noun composition, so it is readily understandable rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
Proportional sample may come from the simple image of cutting a cake so each group gets a piece the same size as its share of the whole. Choosing a sample this way — with each part kept proportional to the group size — helps the results 'reflect the whole population'.