The proportion of all high school students who watch national news is [tex]p=0.47[/tex]. A random sample of school students is selected. Which of the following is the mean of the sampling distribution of [tex]\hat{p}[/tex]?

A. [tex]\mu_{\hat{p}}=p=0.47[/tex]
B. [tex]\mu_{\hat{p}}=n p=50(0.47)=23.5[/tex]
C. [tex]\mu_{\hat{p}}=1-p=1-0.47=0.53[/tex]
D. [tex]\mu_{\hat{p}}=n(1-p)=50(1-0.47)=26.5[/tex]



Answer :

To find the mean of the sampling distribution of \(\hat{p}\) (the sample proportion), we can rely on basic statistical principles. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step solution:

1. Understanding the Sampling Distribution of \(\hat{p}\):
The sampling distribution of the sample proportion \(\hat{p}\) describes the distribution of sample proportions over many repeated samples of the same size from the same population.

2. Mean of the Sampling Distribution of \(\hat{p}\):
One of the properties of the sampling distribution of the sample proportion \(\hat{p}\) is that its mean equals the true population proportion \(p\). Mathematically this is expressed as:
[tex]\[ \mu_{\hat{p}} = p \][/tex]
where \(\mu_{\hat{p}}\) is the mean of the sampling distribution and \(p\) is the true population proportion.

3. Given Data:
We are given that the proportion of all high school students who watch national news is \(p = 0.47\).

4. Application:
Using the property that the mean of the sampling distribution of \(\hat{p}\) is equal to \(p\):
[tex]\[ \mu_{\hat{p}} = 0.47 \][/tex]

5. Conclusion:
The mean of the sampling distribution of \(\hat{p}\) is \(\mu_{\hat{p}} = 0.47\).

Hence, the correct choice among the provided options is:

[tex]\[ \mu_{\hat{p}} = p = 0.47 \][/tex]

None of the other options are correct as they misunderstand the basic statistical principle that the mean of the sampling distribution of the sample proportion is simply the population proportion [tex]\(p\)[/tex], without any further calculations or adjustments based on sample size.

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