ABSTRACT
THE READER SHOULD NOW be aware of the important distinctions between statistical populations and the samples drawn from them. Chapter 3 introduced the theory of sampling and how samples can be designed to accommodate the needs of the geographer. Chapter 5 has also drawn attention to the fact that samples can be used to interpret the properties of the original populations. Samples and sampling are an important part of geographical research, and much has been written about them, and now we need to consider some of these issues in more detail.
