4.7: Summary

Populations correspond to the collection of individuals, items, or measurements that are of interest to a researcher. It is very important that populations be well defined and practical for a study to be both practical and have valid conclusions. Deciding on a population to study is usually an iterative process that both refines the population and the associated research hypotheses. Government institutions can be an excellent source of population data due to their vast resources, access to government databases, and access to research professionals. These established collections of data are usually reliable and thoroughly vetted. In discrimination litigation the definition of the population of potential applicants is of great importance. The correct population is usually decided by the presiding judge in such cases, and the population used can have a fundamental effect on the outcome of the corresponding litigation.

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