In statistical terminology, population is described by a parameter; a sample is described by a statistic. Population is to sample as statistic is to what?

In statistical terminology, population is described by a parameter; a sample is described by a statistic. Population is to sample as statistic is to what?

• A. Parameter
• B. Mean
• C. P-value
• D. Descriptive statistic

Answer: (A)

Think about what each term does. A parameter is the value that describes an entire population, while a statistic describes or summarizes data from a sample. The given relationship says the population is described by a parameter and the sample is described by a statistic. To keep that parallel, the descriptor that goes with the statistic is the same kind of entity that describes the population — a parameter. In practice, a statistic is used to estimate that population parameter, which is why parameter fits best here. The other options are specific statistics (mean, p-value, descriptive statistic) and don’t serve as the general descriptor of the population in this analogy.

Think about what each term does. A parameter is the value that describes an entire population, while a statistic describes or summarizes data from a sample. The given relationship says the population is described by a parameter and the sample is described by a statistic. To keep that parallel, the descriptor that goes with the statistic is the same kind of entity that describes the population — a parameter. In practice, a statistic is used to estimate that population parameter, which is why parameter fits best here. The other options are specific statistics (mean, p-value, descriptive statistic) and don’t serve as the general descriptor of the population in this analogy.