The spelling of "sample mean" is straightforward once the correct pronunciation is understood. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is rendered as /ˈsæmpl miːn/. The first syllable "sampl" is pronounced with a short "a" sound as in "cat" and a "pl" sound at the end. The second syllable "mean" is pronounced with a long "ee" sound as in "seen" and the "n" sound at the end. Together, "sample mean" refers to the average of a sample of data.
Sample mean is a statistical measure that represents the average value of a set of observations or data points selected from a larger population. It is calculated by summing up all the values in the sample and dividing the sum by the number of observations in the sample. The sample mean is a point estimate that provides an approximation of the population mean, which is the average value of the entire population.
The sample mean is considered a valuable tool in statistical analysis as it helps infer and make inferences about population parameters. It serves as an unbiased estimator of the population mean when the sample is representative of the population and drawn using random sampling methods.
In addition to being a measure of central tendency, the sample mean also possesses several other important properties. For instance, it is a robust statistic, meaning that it is not prone to extreme outliers or skewed distributions. Moreover, the sample mean has a central role in the development of statistical theory, including hypothesis testing, estimation, and confidence intervals.
Overall, the sample mean provides an essential summary statistic that allows researchers and analysts to make inferences about the population based on limited data collected from a sample. Its calculation, interpretation, and usage are fundamental to statistical analysis across various fields such as economics, social sciences, finance, and natural sciences.
The term "sample mean" is a combination of two words: "sample" and "mean".
The word "sample" originates from the Latin word "exemplum", meaning "example" or "pattern". In English, the term was first used in the 14th century to refer to a small part or portion taken from a larger whole for inspection or analysis. In statistics, a sample is a subset of individuals or objects from a larger population that is used to draw inferences about the entire population.
The word "mean" comes from the Middle English word "mēne", which came from the Old English word "gemǣne", having the sense of "common" or "shared". In the context of statistics, the mean refers to the average value of a set of numbers, obtained by summing all the values and dividing by the total count.