Target Population

Target Population

Before research can begin the target population must be identified and agreed upon. The target population is the entire population, or group, that a researcher is interested in researching and analysing. A sampling frame is then drawn from this target population.

For example, if the research was to identify approximately how many parents read a particular article in their child’s school newsletter, the target population would be all parents of children at that school. The target units would then be the individual parents, and the school could provide a list of parent contact details which would serve as a sampling frame.

Examples of a target population are a company’s customer base, the population of particular country, the students at a particular university or tenants of a housing association.

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