The entire group or set of items or individuals from which the sample is drawn.

The entire group or set of items or individuals from which a sample is drawn is referred to as the population. In statistical terms, a population includes all members of a specified group that share at least one common characteristic. Understanding the population is crucial for statistical analysis as it provides the context and foundation for the sample.

When conducting research, the population defines the broader universe of data that is relevant to the study. For instance, if researchers want to understand the eating habits of teenagers in a specific city, the population would be all teenagers living in that city. From this population, a sample can be selected to represent the larger group, allowing for insights and generalizations to be made based on the findings from the sample.

In summary, recognizing what the population is helps frame the research objectives and the methods used to interpret data, ensuring that conclusions drawn are applicable to the intended group of interest.