What is meant by a homogenous sample in research?

A homogenous sample in research refers to a group of participants who share similar characteristics or extraneous variables. This uniformity is advantageous because it controls for variability among subjects, allowing researchers to draw more precise conclusions about the effects of the independent variable being studied. When the sample is homogeneous, researchers can more confidently attribute observed changes in the dependent variable to the treatment or condition being examined, rather than to differences among participants.

In contrast, when participants vary widely in extraneous variables, it introduces noise into the data, potentially confounding the results. A larger sample size does not inherently indicate homogeneity; a larger sample can still be very diverse. Additionally, random selection does not guarantee homogeneity; rather, it aims to ensure that a sample is representative of the population, which can include a wide range of characteristics. The focus of a homogenous sample is specifically on the similarities among participants.