CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITING REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES IN RESEARCH AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GENERALIZABILITY

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges in recruiting representative samples, the
impact on generalizability, and practical strategies for improving recruitment in diverse
populations. It starts by explaining the concept of representative samples and then explains the
generalization of findings. The paper further defines recruiting of representative samples as a
process whereby research employs a subset of the population in order to collect data so as to
generalize the information gotten from the sample to the general population. The paper further
explains the consequences of recruiting the samples. Also, it discusses the factors that influence
generalization, importance of representative samples, it also explains the challenges in
recruiting representative sample in research. Furthermore, the seminar looks at the approaches
to mitigate challenges in recruiting representative samples which include; designed-based
approaches, recruitment-based approaches, data collection approaches, analytical approaches
and partnership-based approaches. Finally, the paper gave some recommendations for the best
practices in recruiting representative samples and generalizability of findings.