Repræsentativ

Repræsentativ is a Danish adjective used to describe something that represents a larger group or reflects its characteristics. It can refer to a person who acts as a representative, or to a sample, study, or snapshot that mirrors the properties of a population. The related noun form is repræsentativitet (representativeness). The term derives from the concept of representation and is cognate with the French représentant/représentatif and the English word representative; in Danish, the form has been used since the early modern period.

In statistics and research design, a repræsentativ prøve is one that reproduces the distribution of key variables in the population, enabling generalization of findings. Achieving representativity typically involves random sampling, stratification, and, when necessary, weighting to correct for biases. Representativity is essential for external validity; threats include sampling bias, nonresponse bias, and measurement error.

In other domains, the term appears in politics and sociology to describe systems or processes that aim for representativitet, such as repræsentativt demokrati, where elected representatives act on behalf of voters.

Examples include et repræsentativt udsnit af befolkningen (a representative cross-section of the population) or discussions of the representativity of public opinion polls.

See also: repræsentativitet, repræsentant, repræsentation, repræsentativt udsnit af befolkningen.