sampling

Choosing a small number of things or people to give information about a larger group.

• Careful sampling helps us study a large group.
• The team used random sampling to choose participants.
• Poor sampling can give a misleading picture.

Similar words: sample selection

Common phrases: random sampling, sampling method, sampling of something

A small selection that shows what a larger collection or group is like.

• We tasted a sampling of local cheeses.
• This shelf holds a small sampling of his books.
• The concert offered a sampling of music from several countries.

How to use it: a sampling of something (The exhibition presents a sampling of her paintings.)

Similar words: sample, selection

Common phrases: small sampling, sampling of something, representative sampling

Studying randomly chosen members of a group to learn about the whole group.

• Sampling allowed researchers to estimate the population size.
• The survey relied on sampling rather than interviewing everyone.
• Errors in sampling can affect the final results.

Similar words: sample-based analysis

Common phrases: statistical sampling, population sampling, sampling error

Measuring a changing electrical signal at regular times so it can be stored as digital information.

• The device uses a high sampling rate.
• Sampling converts the changing signal into a series of numbers.
• More frequent sampling preserves more detail in the recorded sound.

Common phrases: sampling rate, audio sampling, signal sampling