A sample resulting from a sampling plan that can be expected to adequately reflect
the properties of interest of the parent population. A representative sample may be
a
random sample or, for example, a
stratified sample, depending upon the objective of sampling and the characteristics of the population.
The degree of representativeness of the sample may be limited by cost or convenience.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 1193
(Nomenclature for sampling in analytical chemistry (Recommendations 1990))
on page 1202