Final answer:
The actual percentage of all Americans who support gun control is an example of a population parameter, representing a characteristic of the entire population in question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actual percentage of all Americans who support gun control is an example of a population parameter. In statistics, a parameter refers to a numerical characteristic that defines a certain aspect of a population. For instance, when surveying high school seniors across the United States about their plans for future education and employment, if 50 percent were found to be planning to attend a four-year college or university, this 50 percent figure also represents a population parameter, as it is a characteristic of the whole population being studied.
In scenarios where it is feasible to survey the entire population, the results obtained represent parameters. However, in instances where only a sample is surveyed, the results would be considered a statistic.
Confidance intervals are used in inferential statistics, which involve using sample data to make generalizations about an unknown population. The confidence interval gives a range in which we can be confident that the actual parameter lies, based on the sample data.