Paying for First Dates USA Today posted this question on the electronic version of its newspaper: “Should guys pay for the first date?” Of the 1148 subjects who decided to respond, 85% of them said “yes.”


b. Is the value of 85% a statistic or a parameter?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the difference between a statistic and a parameter: A statistic is a numerical value that describes a characteristic of a sample, while a parameter is a numerical value that describes a characteristic of a population.
2. Identify the sample and the population in the context of the problem: The sample consists of the 1148 subjects who responded to the USA Today question, while the population would be all individuals who have an opinion on whether guys should pay for the first date.
3. Determine whether the 85% value describes the sample or the population: Since the 85% value is derived from the responses of the 1148 subjects, it describes the sample.
4. Conclude whether the 85% value is a statistic or a parameter: Since the 85% value describes a characteristic of the sample, it is a statistic.
5. Reflect on the implications: Understanding whether a value is a statistic or a parameter helps in determining the scope and applicability of the data, as statistics are used to infer information about the population from the sample.

Key Concepts

Statistic vs. Parameter

A statistic is a numerical value that describes a characteristic of a sample, while a parameter is a numerical value that describes a characteristic of a population. In this context, the 85% represents a statistic because it is derived from a sample of 1148 respondents, not the entire population of people who might have an opinion on the topic.

Sample

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population, selected to represent the population in a study. In this scenario, the 1148 subjects who responded to the USA Today question form a sample of the broader population of people who might have an opinion on whether guys should pay for the first date.

Population

A population includes all members of a defined group that we are studying or collecting information on for statistical purposes. In this case, the population would be all individuals who have an opinion on the question posed by USA Today, not just those who responded to the survey.