The objective of statistics is best described as:
A) To make inferences about a sample based on information we get from a population
B) To use population mean, ƒÝ as an estimate of the sample mean,
C) To make inferences about a population based on information we get from a sample taken from the population
D) To make inferences about a sample with a high degree of reliability
The answer here is C. We are looking to make in inference about a broad group (the population) by observing a small cross section of the group (the sample).
Take, for example, the recent Presidential Polls. Groups like Zogby will call a sample of 500 people to ask them who they might vote for. Then they will make inferences about the general population of the United States about who is leading the race, etc.
Hope that helps :)
The objective of statistics is best described as: C) To make inferences about a population based on information we get from a sample taken from the population.
To arrive at this answer, it's helpful to understand the basic concepts of statistics. Statistics is a branch of mathematics that involves collecting, analyzing, interpreting, presenting, and organizing data. The main objective of statistics is to make inferences or conclusions about a larger population based on information obtained from a smaller sample.
In this context, a population refers to the entire group of individuals or units that we are interested in studying, while a sample is a subset of that population that is selected to represent the whole. By analyzing and drawing conclusions from the sample, statisticians can make educated guesses, or inferences, about the entire population.
Option A, "To make inferences about a sample based on information we get from a population," is not the best description because it focuses on making inferences about a sample instead of the population.
Option B, "To use population mean, ƒÝ as an estimate of the sample mean," is incorrect because statistics typically involve using the sample mean to estimate the population mean, rather than vice versa.
Option D, "To make inferences about a sample with a high degree of reliability," is also incorrect because the main objective of statistics is to make inferences about the population, not just the sample.
Therefore, option C, "To make inferences about a population based on information we get from a sample taken from the population," is the most accurate description of the objective of statistics.