What is the term used to describe the means of targeting a subset of a population for study?

The term that refers to the process of selecting a specific group from a larger population for the purpose of study is sampling. This involves identifying a subset that represents the population in order to make inferences or gather data about that larger group. Proper sampling methods are crucial in research as they help ensure that the findings can be generalized, providing more validity to the conclusions drawn.

Sampling can be performed in various ways, such as random sampling, which helps eliminate bias by giving every member of the population an equal chance of being selected. Other sampling methods might focus on specific characteristics to study a certain population segment more closely.

In contrast, feedback pertains to the information given in response to a process or outcome, analysis involves examining data to interpret findings, and randomization is a technique used primarily in experimental designs to eliminate biases by randomly assigning subjects to different groups. While all these concepts are integral to research, they do not specifically refer to the act of selecting a portion of the population for study.