When conducting research, one of the key considerations researchers must make is the type of population they will be studying. A population in research is the group of individuals or objects that meet specific criteria and are the focus of a study. Different types of populations may require different sampling methods, data collection techniques, and statistical analyses in order to accurately draw conclusions. In this article, we will explore three types of populations in research, namely, target population, accessible population, and sample population.
1. Target Population:
The target population, also known as the study population, is the specific group of individuals or objects that the researcher is interested in studying. In other words, these are the individuals or objects that meet the inclusion criteria and are relevant to the research question. For example, if a researcher is interested in studying the effects of a new medication on diabetic patients, then the target population would be individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Identifying the target population is a crucial step in the research process as it determines the scope and applicability of the study.
2. Accessible Population:
Accessing and studying an entire target population can be impractical and sometimes impossible. This is where the concept of an accessible population comes in. An accessible population refers to a subset of the target population that is readily available and accessible to the researcher. Continuing with the previous example, the target population of individuals with diabetes may be too large to study in its entirety. Therefore, the researcher may choose to focus on a smaller accessible population, such as individuals within a certain age range or those who have been diagnosed with a specific type of diabetes. The accessible population should still be representative of the target population, but it may not include all individuals who meet the inclusion criteria.
3. Sample Population:
The sample population is a subset of the accessible population that is chosen to participate in a study. This group of individuals or objects is selected using specific sampling techniques and is representative of the accessible population. This allows researchers to make inferences about the larger accessible population using data collected from the sample population. In our example, the researcher may choose to randomly select a group of diabetic patients from a specific clinic to participate in the study. The findings from this sample population can then be generalized to the larger accessible population of diabetic patients.
It is important for researchers to carefully consider and define the target, accessible, and sample populations in their studies to ensure the validity and generalizability of their findings. Different types of populations may require different sampling techniques and data collection methods. For example, if the target population is a specific demographic, such as children under the age of 10, the researcher may need to use parental consent and child-friendly data collection methods.
In conclusion, understanding the types of populations in research is crucial for designing and conducting a successful study. The target population defines the scope of the study, the accessible population determines the practicality of the research, and the sample population allows for generalizability of the findings. It is important for researchers to carefully select and define these populations to ensure the accuracy and applicability of their research.