Final Answer:
The parameter being estimated is the proportion of households in Ontario that own at least one dog.
Step-by-step explanation:
Estimation of parameters involves using sample data to infer or estimate characteristics or values about a larger population. In this case, the parameter being estimated is the proportion of households in Ontario that own at least one dog.
A confidence interval is a range of values constructed using sample data that is likely to contain the true value of the population parameter. In this scenario, to estimate the proportion of households owning at least one dog in Ontario, a 96% confidence interval is constructed based on the sample data collected from 274 households.
The construction of a confidence interval involves using a formula that incorporates the sample proportion, the sample size, and the desired level of confidence. The calculation of the confidence interval for the proportion of households owning at least one dog in Ontario at a 96% confidence level would involve utilizing the sample proportion (44%), the sample size (274), and the appropriate z-score from the standard normal distribution corresponding to the confidence level.
This confidence interval will provide a range within which we can be 96% confident that the true proportion of households in Ontario that own at least one dog lies. It helps in understanding the likely range of values for the population parameter based on the information obtained from the sample data.