n.choosing, as part of appraisal, a subset of records based on a particular typePeterson 1982a, 13Exemplary [Sampling]. Selection made on a qualitative basis to document some characteristic, activity, or time period. ¶ . . . ¶ Advantages: Can be justified to researchers, although with some difficulty. ¶ Can trace a program over time. ¶ Often saves files most in demand by researchers. ¶ Disadvantages: Is not statistically valid; cannot be used to reconstruct the whole. ¶ Does not save the exceptional cases. ¶ Cannot control the size of the sample. ¶ Requires great substantive expertise. ¶ “Typicality” is always at issue; problem of bias.Hunter 2020, 64With exemplary sampling, the archivist selects all items conforming to a particular type. The goal of the sample is to document some characteristic, activity, or time period. For example, the archivist might select all files ¶ from one region (to show how typical field offices operated), ¶ of a particular category of court cases (e.g., felony convictions), ¶ from the years immediately before and after reorganization (to show its impact on actual operations), or ¶ for faculty members reaching the rank of associate professor or above.
