We love talking about “the population”… all students, all courses, all outcomes. But you never hold a population in your hand. You hold a sample: this section, this semester, these ten advising notes. That’s not a bug; it’s the vehicle. A decent, honest sample moves you forward faster than a hypothetical population ever will. Treat the population like a map: helpful for bearings. Then take the road trip with the sample you can collect today. The question isn’t “Is my sample perfect?” It’s “Is it purposeful and transparent?” Name the route you took. Own the limits. Make the next mile better.
