Final answer:
Option (a), The large group of individuals from which a smaller group is selected for an experiment is the population. A sample is a subset of this population chosen for the study, and using a random sample ensures equal chance of selection and reliable statistical analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The large group of individuals from which a smaller group is selected for an experiment is known as the population. This population represents the overall group of individuals that researchers are interested in. A subset of this population that is chosen for the experiment is called a sample. It's crucial to use a random sample, where every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. This helps to maintain the reliability of the experiment and ensures that the statistical analysis is valid.
In the context of the question provided, a psychologist is studying college students' eating behaviors in relation to the size of their tableware. Here, the population is all college students, and the sample includes the 100 college students who were actually part of the study. The setup includes two groups: the experimental group, which receives the treatment, and the control group, which does not.