CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The term "universe" in the context of sampling refers to the larger group from which a sample is drawn. It encompasses all individuals or instances that share specific characteristics relevant to the study, usually defined by time and place. When researchers reference the universe, they are speaking about the complete population that is relevant to their study objectives, not limited to the participants they actively surveyed or collected data from.

This perspective is crucial in research design because understanding what the universe entails helps researchers ensure their sample accurately reflects the larger population they intend to study. Therefore, the universe can significantly influence the generalizability of the study findings, making it a foundational concept in sampling techniques. The other options, while related to data collection and analysis, do not accurately capture the meaning of "universe" as it specifically pertains to the population under investigation.