Because of the small number of the population the researcher will use the entire population as the sample size. According to…. … state that if the population size is small the researcher can use the entire population. Researchers choose to study the entire population because the size of the population that has the particular set of characteristics that are interest in it is typically very small.
Usually, it is only straightforward to collect data from a whole population when it is small, accessible and cooperative.
Yes it is acceptable to possible to use the entire population in your study. This is done purporsevely where the population is manageable or because of other desires you may have. This is intensively documented in literature. For instance you can cite Lakens 2022.
If you study all the members of some population, then you have completely characterized that population with respect to the measurements you have collected, and I don’t see why you need to cite any authority. However, although your results may be of value in understanding some other similar “population”, your results from the first population may not generalize well to the second.
In terms of providing reliable statistical results, conducting a census of the entire population is ideal. By contrast, using a statistical sample is subject to sampling error. We sample for practical reasons: e.g., to limit the cost, to limit the burden on respondents, and because a complete list of the entire population often is not available. Also, only a relatively small sample is needed to produce reliable results, generally providing little reason to go to the extra time and expense of conducting a census.
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