Research Population vs. Target Population

Attribute	Research Population	Target Population
Definition	The group of individuals who are the focus of a research study	The group of individuals to whom the research findings will be applied
Size	Usually smaller than the target population	Usually larger than the research population
Selection	Selected from the target population	May not be directly selected from the target population
Representativeness	May or may not be representative of the target population	Should ideally be representative of the target population
Generalizability	Findings may not be generalizable to the target population	Findings are intended to be generalizable to the target population

Definition

Research population and target population are two important concepts in the field of research. The research population refers to the entire group of individuals or elements that the researcher is interested in studying. This group is often too large to study in its entirety, so a smaller subset, known as the sample, is usually selected for the study. On the other hand, the target population is the specific group of individuals to whom the results of the study will be generalized.

Characteristics

The research population is characterized by its size and diversity. It may include a wide range of individuals with different characteristics, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. The target population, on the other hand, is defined by its relevance to the research question. It is the group of individuals to whom the findings of the study are intended to apply.

Selection Process

When selecting a research population, researchers must consider factors such as feasibility, cost, and time constraints. They may use sampling techniques to select a representative sample from the larger population. In contrast, the target population is determined based on the research objectives and the population to which the findings will be applied.

Sample Size

The size of the research population is typically much larger than the sample size. Researchers aim to select a sample that is representative of the larger population to ensure the generalizability of the findings. In contrast, the target population is the specific group to which the results of the study will be applicable.

Generalizability

One of the key differences between the research population and the target population is the concept of generalizability. The research population represents the group of individuals from which the sample is drawn, while the target population is the group to which the findings of the study can be applied. Generalizability is an important consideration in research, as it determines the extent to which the results can be applied to other populations.

Application

The research population is the group of individuals or elements that the researcher is interested in studying, while the target population is the group to which the findings of the study will be generalized. Understanding the differences between these two populations is essential for designing and conducting research studies that produce valid and reliable results.