Confidence Interval
A confidence interval is a statistical tool used to estimate the range in which a certain population parameter, like a mean or proportion, is likely to fall. If researchers say they are 95% confident that the average height of a group of people is between 5.5 and 6 feet, it means that if they took many samples, 95 out of 100 times, the true average would fall within that range. It helps to convey the uncertainty and reliability of estimates based on sample data, providing a clearer picture than just a single number.
Additional Insights
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A confidence interval is a range of values used to estimate an unknown population parameter, such as a mean or proportion. It suggests how confident we are that the true value lies within this range. For example, if a survey estimates a candidate’s support at 55% with a 95% confidence interval of 50% to 60%, it means we are 95% confident that their actual support is between 50% and 60%. This concept helps account for uncertainty in data and provides a measure of reliability for estimates.