What is the Difference Between Example and Sample?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The words "example" and "sample" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and purposes:
- Example: An example is a specific instance or case that is used to illustrate a point, support a claim, or demonstrate a concept, idea, or theory. It is typically used in situations where recreation or reconstruction is not possible and can be seen or observed. For instance, in a research paper on the effects of social media on teenagers, an example might be given of a particular teenager who experienced cyberbullying as a result.
- Sample: A sample is a subset of a larger population that is selected for research purposes. It is used to gather data about the population as a whole, and the results are extrapolated to make inferences. In marketing and sales, a sample can refer to a physical thing, such as a specimen or model. For example, in quantitative research, a sample is a small number of respondents randomly selected from a population.
In summary, examples are used to illustrate or clarify a point, while samples are used to gather data about a particular population of interest. The main difference between the two lies in their purpose: examples are used to support or explain a claim or concept, whereas samples are used to represent and gather data about a larger group.
Comparative Table: Example vs Sample
The difference between "example" and "sample" lies in their usage and representation. Here's a table summarizing the differences:
Feature | Example | Sample |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Illustrates a specific concept or idea in context | Represents a subset of a population or group |
Structure | Often more complete, with enough content to illustrate a specific aspect | May be a random selection from a group, not necessarily the choice that best epitomizes the group |
Usage | Often used for a chunk of code, a formula, or other similar snippets to provide generic guidance on how something might be used | Used to help in decision-making, particularly in decisions that involve selecting something based on its suitability |
Examples are typically used to illustrate a specific concept or idea in context, while samples are representative of a larger group and are often used to make decisions based on their suitability.
- Sample vs Population
- Case Study vs Experiment
- Census Survey vs Sample Survey
- Census vs Sampling
- Difference vs Different
- Exam vs Test
- Population vs Sample Standard Deviation
- Study vs Experiment
- Same vs Similar
- Case Study vs Research
- Evidence vs Proof
- Case Study vs Survey
- Sampling vs Quantization
- Survey vs Experiment
- Simple Random Sample vs Systematic Random Sample
- Case Study vs Scientific Research
- Compare vs Contrast
- How Much vs How Many
- Object vs Instance