målpopulationens

Målpopulationens, or in Swedish the target population, refers to the entire group of individuals about whom a study intends to draw conclusions. It is the population of interest that defines which characteristics are relevant for the research question. The term is often used to distinguish the ideal group researchers want to understand from the actual participants who are recruited.

In practice, researchers differentiate among several related concepts. The target population is not always the same as the study population—the people who actually participate—or the accessible population—the subset that could be reached given practical constraints. The sampling frame is the list or mechanism from which participants are drawn. Clarity about the målpopulationens helps assess external validity and the extent to which findings can be generalized.

Defining the målpopulationens involves setting explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, geographical scope, time frame, and relevant attributes such as age, sex, health status, or exposure. These criteria guide recruitment, measurement, and analysis, and they influence representativeness and potential biases.

Selection methods range from probability sampling to non-probability sampling, each with implications for generalizability. Researchers must consider ethical principles, aiming for fair representation while respecting consent and privacy. Limitations arise when the target population is poorly defined, changes over time, or is difficult to access, potentially reducing applicability of results beyond the study context.

See also: target population, study population, sampling frame, generalizability.