Population vs Sample vs Parameter

What word best describes this definition: a numerical value that is calculated from a sample. Mean or average from the sample, denoted x̄ (x-bar).

• Population

• Sample

• Parameter

• Statistic

The math department of Anne Arundel County public schools sends out a survey to 300 randomly selected high school students. In the survey, they ask students to state how many hours they spend doing math homework in a typical week. The average amount of time was 42 minutes. What is the STATISTIC (x̄: sample mean)?

• 42 minutes

• 300 randomly selected AACPS students

• All AACPS students

• The average amount of time that all AACPS students spend doing math homework

Determine whether the data set is a population or a sample.

The age of all members of congress.

• Population

• Sample

Determine whether 20.7 is a parameter or a statistic.

In a recent year, the average math scores for all graduates on the ACT was 20.7

• Parameter

• Statistic

Determine whether the data set is a population or a sample.

The speed of every fifth car passing a police speed trap.

• Population

• Sample

Determine whether $68,000 is a parameter or a statistic.

The average annual salary for 35 of a company's 1200 accountants is $68,000.

• Parameter

• Statistic

Define parameter in the context of statistics.

• Characteristic of a population

• Average of a sample

• Standard deviation of a sample

• Median of a population

In a study of 500 employees, what is the parameter and what is the statistic if the average salary is calculated?

• Median salary of all employees for parameter, and median salary of the 500 employees for statistic

• Average salary of all employees in the company for parameter, and average salary of the 500 employees in the study for statistic

• Average salary of the 500 employees for parameter, and average salary of all employees in the company for statistic

• Total number of employees for parameter, and average salary of the 500 employees for statistic

What role do parameters and statistics play in making inferences about a population?

• Parameters describe the sample, while statistics describe the population.

• Parameters describe the population, while statistics describe the sample.

• Parameters and statistics are the same thing.

• Parameters and statistics are not relevant in making inferences about a population.

In a study of 1000 students, the average score on a test was 75. Is this result a parameter or a statistic?

• Statistic

• Average

• Parameter

• Test score