Theory of Sampling (TOS) - the missing link before analysis

What is the meaning of analysing a non-representative sample? None—there is no meaning! Undoubtedly everybody agrees with the answer to the above provocative question. If a sample cannot be documented to be representative (of the lot/target material from where it was taken) it is a waste of time, effort and money to analyse it! This small argument pretty much sums up the background for the present new column in Spectroscopy Europe. While there is plenty of sampling going on in the world of science, technology and industry, much of it unfortunately cannot be characterised as anywhere near being representative, indeed it is rather oriented towards easy, not-too-expensive “sampling”—with the least effort. However, sampling can certainly be both practical and representative, all it needs is to follow the Theory of Sampling.