Question

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

Answer 1

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 :)