03: Terminology I: Population, Parameter, Sample

Terminology 1

• Population
  • The entire group of individuals or objects to which we hope to generalize our results

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  • Parameter
    • A summary value of a specific population characteristic (e.g., mean age, standard deviation of IQ’s, median income)

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    • Sample
      • A subgroup of a population. In theory, the ideal sample represents the entire population.

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      • Statistic
        • An observed characteristic of a sample (e.g., 20% improvement rate, range of IQ’s)

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