Final answer:
The population of the study refers to 'all college students', which is not explicitly described but can be inferred from the sample of 100 college students provided in the study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which option best describes how the study's population is characterized. Based on the information provided, the correct choice is B. The population, all college students, is not explicitly described in the study but can be inferred from the context of the sample which consists of 100 college students. This is because a sample is typically a subset of the population that is supposed to represent the larger group. The goal is to have a sample accurately represent the larger population for the study's findings to be generalized.
In research studies, it is common practice to select a random sample to ensure that every person in the population has the same chance of being chosen for the study. This helps in reducing bias and increases the likelihood that the results can be generalized to the entire population. The information given also mentions experimental units, explanatory variable, treatment, and a response variable related to students' eating habits with respect to the size of tableware, revealing that this research is concerned with behaviors in a specific context.