What is a key factor in achieving sample generalizability?

Achieving sample generalizability is fundamentally about how well the sample represents the larger population from which it is drawn. The quality of the sample is crucial because it ensures that the characteristics of the sample closely mirror those of the broader target group. A high-quality sample is characterized by carefully defined inclusion criteria, appropriate sampling methodologies (like random sampling), and representation of key demographic variables. This representative nature allows researchers to confidently extend their findings from the sample to the larger population, making their results more applicable and impactful in real-world settings.

While the number of respondents can play a role in the statistical power and reliability of the findings, it doesn't inherently ensure that those respondents are representative of the population. Similarly, the diversity of the research team and the duration of the study contribute to the research process but do not directly influence the representative nature of the sample in question. Thus, the quality of the sample stands out as the key factor in achieving generalizability.