COFFEE BREAK – What is a representative sample?

6 December 2019
Our Coffee Break with Leger video clip series is designed to provide a brief overview of answers to key questions in the market research world. If you would like further information about the research services we provide, click the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of this page to get in touch with our team.

A sample is representative of the population to the extent that we can compare characteristics of it (such as age, region, or income) with reliable data from sources such as Statistics Canada.

It becomes more complex when we target a much more specific population, such as those who take public transit or drink craft beer. However, when our initial sample is representative, we can be confident that it is representative of our target population, and our results are reliable.

Anne-Marie Newton is a Research Director at Leger. With almost 10 years of experience, Anne-Marie brings expertise in communications research to the Communications & Public Affairs Division.

Related Posts

Lana Porter Meets AIMI: A Human Take on AI-Moderated Interviews

As AI becomes more common in market research, qualitative teams are asking a practical question: how can new tools help us move faster and hear from more people, while still protecting the nuance and interpretation that make qualitative insights useful? For Leger,...

The Biggest Survey Design Mistakes in Academic Research

A well-designed survey can produce reliable, meaningful data. A poorly designed one can compromise an entire study. And yet, survey design is often underestimated. It’s more than just a series of questions; it’s one of the key pilars for a strong thesis. Whether...

Get the latest in your inbox

Stay up to date on cutting-edge research, news and more.