Final answer:
The accuracy of the sample mean as an estimate of the population mean is affected by the size of the sample, sampling variability, and the distribution of the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accuracy of the sample mean as an estimate of the population mean is affected by several factors. One factor is the size of the sample. The larger the sample size, the more accurate the estimate is likely to be. Another factor is sampling variability, which refers to how much the sample mean varies from sample to sample. Decreasing sampling variability can be achieved by taking larger samples.
Additionally, the distribution of the population also affects the accuracy of the sample mean as an estimate. If the population distribution is highly skewed or has extreme outliers, the sample mean may not accurately represent the population mean. It is important to note that these factors can only affect the accuracy, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of the sample mean as an estimate of the population mean.