ENTR 3P99 Chapter 9: Chapter 9
16 Feb 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Since it is not usually possible or practical to measure every individual person or event (a census) we take, A sample as a representative portion of the population which is selected for study. A statistic is a characteristic of the sample used to estimate the equivalent population parameter. Logically, the greater the similarity between our small sample and the large population (the more representative the sample is of the population) the better the sample statistic should estimate the population parameter. Inferential statistics are used to provide the probability that a pattern found in your sample data will actually be true for your population. The term inferential comes from the word infer . Survey: systematic process of gathering information from a sample in order to study a population. Census: a survey in which all of the population elements are included. Taking elements of the defined population according to acceptable procedures to ensure a representative sample.
