Which method involves estimating population parameters based on sample data?

The method that involves estimating population parameters based on sample data is known as inferential statistics. This branch of statistics allows researchers to make generalizations about a larger population from which the sample is drawn. It uses data from a smaller group (the sample) to infer conclusions about the entire population, often through estimation techniques, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and significance testing.

Using inferential statistics is crucial in research when it is impractical or impossible to collect data from every individual in a population. By employing this method, researchers can analyze sample data and draw conclusions that have broader implications, thereby informing practice or policy decisions. For example, if researchers survey a group of 1,000 voters to predict the outcome of a national election, they would rely on inferential statistics to estimate the voting behavior of all eligible voters based on the responses of their sample.

Descriptive statistics, on the other hand, summarize and describe the main features of a dataset, providing simple summaries about the sample and the measures. Qualitative analysis focuses on understanding and interpreting non-numerical data, while content analysis is a systematic method for analyzing textual or visual information. All these methods serve important roles but don't specifically involve estimating population parameters from sample data in the way inferential statistics does