What is the primary purpose of calculating a $confidence interval$ in statistics?

• A. To determine the exact value of a $population$ $parameter$
• B. To calculate the probability of a specific $sample$ outcome
• C. To estimate a range of values within which a $population$ $parameter$ is likely to fall with a certain level of $confidence$
• D. To test whether two $population$ means are equal

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a confidence interval is a range of values, derived from sample data, that is used to estimate an unknown population parameter.
2. Recognize that the confidence interval provides an estimated range that is likely to contain the true population parameter, rather than giving an exact value.
3. Know that the confidence level (such as 95%) represents the proportion of such intervals that would contain the population parameter if you repeated the sampling process many times.
4. Distinguish that confidence intervals are not used to calculate the probability of a specific sample outcome or to test hypotheses about equality of means directly.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of calculating a confidence interval is to estimate a range of values within which the population parameter is likely to fall with a certain level of confidence.