American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

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A property that selects a statistical sample of a large population will always:

  1. Reduce the amount of effort required to ascertain characteristics of population

  2. Provide a mathematical estimate of the accuracy of the calculated population characteristics

  3. Be the unbiased sample of the entire population

  4. Be of adequate size to satisfy confidence criteria if a pre-sample was used to determine the required sample size

The correct answer is: Provide a mathematical estimate of the accuracy of the calculated population characteristics

Selecting a statistical sample from a large population allows researchers to derive insights about the entire population based on the data collected. One critical aspect of statistical sampling is that it enables the calculation of various statistical measures, including confidence intervals and margins of error. When a sample is taken, mathematical techniques can be applied to estimate the accuracy of the calculated population characteristics. This includes determining how closely the sample characteristics reflect those of the entire population, often expressed through confidence levels. The ability to provide a mathematical estimate of accuracy is fundamental to inferential statistics. It helps researchers understand the reliability of their sample results and make informed decisions based on those findings. As such, the option that states the statistical sample will provide a mathematical estimate of the accuracy of the calculated population characteristics captures the essence of what statistical sampling aims to achieve. The other options do not hold universally true in the context of statistical sampling. For instance, while selecting a sample may reduce the effort required to gather population characteristics, it does not always guarantee reduced effort if the sample is not appropriately designed. Similarly, an unbiased sample is ideal but not guaranteed unless specific random sampling methods are employed. Lastly, while adequate sample size is important for satisfying confidence criteria, it does not ensure that all samples will meet this condition, especially