Representative sampling seeks to keep the distributions of a group similar between the smaller sample and all participants, whereas diversity sampling selects a group of people that do not mimic the distribution but instead have the greatest range and variation of participants.

Diversity Sampling vs. Representative Sampling

Representative sampling can be more helpful in quantitative studies in looking at disparities between groups in outcomes - for instance, looking at systemic health disparities.

Benefits of Representative Sampling

Representative sampling is a method of selecting participants that seeks to keep the same distribution of disability, race, gender, etc in the sample as in the whole group of participants.

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Diversity Sampling, also known as maximum variable sampling, is a method of sampling participants that selects participants based on getting the greatest possible variation in the participant group out of the individuals sampled.

Diversity Sampling/Maximum Variable Sampling

Price, M. (2024). Crip Spacetime. Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.1215/9781478059370

Price (2024) Crip Spacetime

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Representative Sampling

Price notes that diversity sampling can lead to greater representations of under-researched groups and offering of insights that were previously unknown or under-recognized by the researchers. 

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