What is the process of selecting participants to ensure every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen?

The process of selecting participants to ensure that every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen is known as random selection. This method is fundamental in research as it helps to eliminate bias that could affect the validity of study findings. When random selection is employed, it creates a sample that is more likely to be representative of the whole population, which allows for generalizations to be made based on the results.

In contrast, random assignment involves distributing already selected participants into different groups, which is a separate process used typically in experimental designs. Convenience sampling and purposeful sampling, on the other hand, involve selecting participants based on accessibility or specific characteristics rather than ensuring that all members of a population have an equal opportunity to be included. These methods do not provide the randomness necessary for the statistical rigor that random selection offers. Therefore, random selection is crucial for achieving reliable and unbiased research results.