A sample resulting from a sampling plan that can be expected to adequately reflect the properties of interest of the parent population. A representative sample may be a
random sample or, for example, a
stratified sample, depending upon the objective of sampling and the characteristics of the population. The degree of representativeness of the sample may be limited by cost or convenience.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 1193
(Nomenclature for sampling in analytical chemistry (Recommendations 1990))
on page 1202
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
