Question

in a study of all babies born at hospitals in one state, it was found that the average (mean) weight at birth was 3150.2 grams. identify whether this value is a statistic or a parameter.
choose the correct answer below.
a. the value is a statistic because it describes some characteristic of a population.
b. the value is a parameter because it describes some characteristic of a sample.
c. the value is a parameter because it describes some characteristic of a population.
d. the value is a statistic because it describes some characteristic of a sample.

Explanation:

A parameter describes a characteristic of a population, while a statistic describes a characteristic of a sample. The study is about all babies born at hospitals in one state, so this is the population. The average weight here describes the population, so it's a parameter. Option C says the value is a parameter because it describes a population characteristic, which matches. Option A says it's a statistic (wrong, as it's a population), B says parameter for a sample (wrong, parameter is for population), D says statistic for a sample (wrong).

Answer:

C. The value is a parameter because it describes some characteristic of a population.