Final answer:
The group of subjects or objects studied is called the population. A sample is a subset of the population used in scientific investigations. Sociologically, a group is defined by interaction and shared identity among its members.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group of all subjects or objects of interest within a particular study or analysis is referred to as the population. A population may be broad, such as all people living in a certain country, or it can be very specific, such as all algebra students in a particular city.
When designing an experiment or conducting a scientific investigation, researchers will often select a sample from this population, which is a subset of individuals or events chosen for the study. The sample represents the larger population and aims to provide data from which scientists and researchers can draw conclusions or generalize findings.
In sociological contexts, the term group implies a collection of individuals who interact regularly and share a sense of identity. Not every gathering of people forms a group; a key distinction is whether they share that sense of identity or function together in some way. For example, people waiting in line at a cafe don't typically form a sociological group since they lack frequent interaction and shared identity.