Course Journal #7
For unit 7, the two specific things that I learned about are different sampling techniques and
how to find the square root of a number using excel.
I learned about what sampling is and what a sample is. Sampling is selec�ng a representa�ve
group, which is the sample, from the popula�on. We do this in order to be able to generalize
the results of an experiment or study from the sample to the popula�on, which we can do if the
sample is representa�ve of the overall popula�on. When sampling from a popula�on, we want
to make sure our sample is representa�ve of our popula�on, so that we may generalize to it. If
the sample is not representa�ve, then we cannot generalize to our popula�on and we have a
flawed experiment. For example, if my popula�on is all college students at UW Madison, but I
only sample from my friends, who in this scenario are all junior psychology majors, I would not
get a representa�ve sample of the en�re university. I could randomly sample from the en�re
popula�on, or I could drill down even more and do a stra�fied random sample, where I
randomly sample people propor�onally. I also learned how to use excel to find a square root
through the =SQRT() func�on. I enjoy learning new things about excel as it is a very handy and
versa�le tool for many things sta�s�cs and non-sta�s�cs related.
I will be able to apply my knowledge of sampling to my life by being able to spot samples that
are cherry picked and unrepresenta�ve of the popula�on that the research is trying to
generalize about. Sampling also involves having a sufficient sample size as without a sizable
sample, it is possible to have an unrepresenta�ve sample even if you randomly sample from the
popula�on as sampling follows the law of large numbers too. I will be able to use my knowledge
of the =SQRT() func�on by adding it to my repertoire of excel knowledge, which will be useful
when conduc�ng research.