Estimator of a population
A random variable that depends on the same information
Its value provides approximations of this unknown parameter
Examples of a population parameter
Population mean
Population proportion
Point estimator of a population parameter
A function of the sample information that produces a single number called a point estimate
Example of a point estimator
Sample mean is a point estimator of the population mean
The value that the mean assumes for a given set of data is called the point estimate
Confidence interval estimator for a population parameter
A rule for determining an interval that is likely to include the parameter.