LESSON 64 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY || SECTION 3.4: TARGET POPULATION

Item: LESSON 64 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY || SECTION 3.4: TARGET POPULATION
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by Prof. Lydiah Wambugu

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History GPResearch and information: general GPSResearch methods

🎙 Prof. Lydiah Wambugu 👥 29K 📅 November 1, 2021 ⏱ 13 min 👁 12K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-08-17

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

target populationaccessible populationunit of analysisunit of observationresearch proposal

Summary

This lesson, part of a research methods course, focuses on Section 3.4 of a research proposal, which addresses the target population. The instructor, Prof. Lydiah Wambugu, begins by recapping the structure of Chapter 3 and the previous section on research design. She then defines key concepts: population as the entire group of interest, element as an individual member, and parameter as a numerical characteristic of the population. She clarifies the distinction between unit of analysis (the primary subject of study) and unit of observation (the source of data), illustrating with an example where the unit of analysis is a project and the unit of observation is its team or beneficiaries. The lesson differentiates between target population (those with specific attributes to whom results are generalized) and accessible population (the subset to which the researcher has access). The instructor emphasizes that in a proposal, one typically writes ’target population’ under the assumption that it is accessible. Requirements for Section 3.4 include specifying all participants and providing actual numbers per category. The lesson concludes with a preview of the next topic: sample size and sampling techniques.

184 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable foundational knowledge for students writing research proposals. It clearly explains the concepts of target and accessible populations, and the distinction between unit of analysis and observation, which are often confusing. The argumentation is logical and structured, using examples (e.g., health workers, academic performance) to illustrate abstract concepts. The instructor’s explanations are consistent with standard research methodology textbooks, though no external sources are cited. The value lies in its pedagogical clarity and practical guidance for writing Section 3.4.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is adequate for an introductory tutorial. The content aligns with established research methodology principles, but the video does not reference specific academic sources or studies. The instructor relies on her expertise and the course textbook. The title accurately reflects the content, which is entirely focused on the target population. The description provides links to the instructor’s website and related resources, but these are not cited within the video itself. Overall, the information is reliable for educational purposes, though not heavily sourced.

180 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses exclusively on Section 3.4 of a research proposal, specifically the target population.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The content is a clear, structured tutorial on research methodology, presenting standard definitions and distinctions (target vs accessible population, unit of analysis vs observation). The instructor demonstrates expertise, but the video lacks explicit citations to external sources, relying on established textbook knowledge. The information is accurate and consistent with common research methods literature.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Research Methods Class Website — Mentioned as the source for the course and textbook.
Consultancy Services — Mentioned as a service offered by the instructor.
IBM SPSS Course — Mentioned as a related course.
Research Methods eBook — Mentioned as a resource for the course.
YouTube Channel Subscription — Mentioned for subscribing to the channel.

Concurring Sources

Research Methods Knowledge Base — Provides similar definitions of target and accessible populations.

Contribution & Novelties

The video offers a clear, step-by-step guide to writing Section 3.4 of a research proposal, emphasizing the distinction between target and accessible populations and the importance of specifying actual participant numbers. It provides practical examples that help students apply these concepts. The novelty lies in its pedagogical approach, breaking down complex methodology into digestible segments.

Pour aller plus loin :

Sampling (statistics) — Provides broader context on sampling methods and terminology.
Statistical population — Explains the concept of population in statistics.
Research design — Offers an overview of research design, relevant to the previous section.

95 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows balanced scores across information quantity, quality, technical level, and reliability, indicating a solid educational resource. The technical level is moderate, suitable for beginners, while reliability is high due to the instructor's expertise and clear explanations.

Reliability 7/10