Question

determine whether the underlined number describes a population parameter or a sample statistic. explain your reasoning. a survey of 2208 adults in a country found that 80% think that militant terrorists are a major threat to the well-being of their country. choose the correct statement below. \\(\bigcirc\\) a. the number is a sample statistic because it describes the people in a sample, which is a subset of all of the people in the country. \\(\bigcirc\\) b. the number is a population parameter because it is a numerical description of all of the people in the country. \\(\bigcirc\\) c. the number is a population parameter because it describes the people in a sample, which is a subset of all of the people in the country. \\(\bigcirc\\) d. the number is a sample statistic because it is a numerical description of all of the people in the country.

Explanation:

To determine if 80% is a population parameter or sample statistic, we recall: a population parameter describes the entire population, while a sample statistic describes a sample (a subset of the population). Here, the survey is of 2208 adults (a sample, not the entire country's adult population). So 80% describes the sample. Option A correctly states it's a sample statistic as it describes a sample (subset of all people in the country). Option B is wrong (not all people), C is wrong (population parameter doesn't describe a sample), D is wrong (sample statistic isn't of all people).

Answer:

A. The number is a sample statistic because it describes the people in a sample, which is a subset of all of the people in the country.