A numerical measure that describes a characteristic of the whole population is called:

The correct term for a numerical measure that describes a characteristic of the whole population is known as a parameter. In statistics, a parameter is a value that represents a specific characteristic of a population, such as the population mean (average), population variance, or population proportion.

Parameters differ from statistics, which are numerical measures that describe characteristics of a sample drawn from the population. For instance, while we may calculate the sample mean (a statistic) from a subset of individuals, the true mean of the entire population is the population mean (a parameter).

Understanding the distinction between parameters and statistics is fundamental in the field of statistics, as it helps researchers correctly interpret their findings and make inferences about broader populations based on sample data. By knowing these definitions, one can better grasp concepts like sampling methods, estimation, and hypothesis testing that rely heavily on these measures.