# Sampling Validity and STM Research

The extent to which we can generalise from the results of memory experiments to the general population depends on how representative were the samples used. Experimental psychologists often make use of opportunity samples. That is, they usually use as a sample anyone that it is convenient to recruit. Consequently, most of the experiments you have learned about were carried out with samples on undergraduate Psychology students, in the 1950s to 1970s.

The problem with this is that undergraduate students differ from the general population in a number of ways. For example:

- They have a high level of education
- They do not accurately represent the ethnic and social diversity of the population.
- In the 60s and 70s, they contained more men than women

Because the samples used contained a relatively narrow range of the population, it may be difficult to apply the results of STM research to the population at large.

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Basic level content | Start | Digit span measures of STM | Recency measures of STM | Test your learning
Intermediate level content |  | Research using digit span measures | Research using recency measures |
Advanced level content |  | Ecological validity and STM research | Sampling validity and STM research |