What is a characteristic of a sample in statistics?

A characteristic of a sample in statistics is that it represents the whole population. In statistical practice, a sample is a subset of individuals or observations selected from a larger group, known as the population. The purpose of sampling is to gather insights that can help make inferences about the entire population without needing to collect data from every single member. By carefully selecting a sample that accurately reflects the diversity and characteristics of the population, statisticians can draw conclusions that are more likely to be valid for the entire group.

For instance, if a researcher wants to understand the average height of adults in a city, they don't need to measure the height of every adult. Instead, they can take a sample that is representative of the population, allowing them to use statistical methods to estimate the average height with a known level of confidence. This approach is crucial for efficiency and feasibility in research.