In a study, the mean height of all students in a university is calculated using the heights of every student. Is this mean value a $\mathrm{parameter}$ or a $\mathrm{statistic}$?

• A. It depends on the sample size
• B. Neither $\mathrm{parameter}$ nor $\mathrm{statistic}$
• C. $\mathrm{Parameter}$
• D. $\mathrm{Statistic}$

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions: A parameter is a numerical value that describes a characteristic of an entire population, while a statistic describes a characteristic of a sample drawn from the population.
2. Identify the population and sample in the problem: Here, the mean height is calculated using the heights of every student in the university, which means the entire population is used.
3. Since the calculation involves the entire population, the mean height represents a parameter, not a statistic.
4. Recognize that if the mean were calculated from only a subset (sample) of students, it would be called a statistic.
5. Therefore, the mean height calculated from all students is a parameter because it describes the whole population.