What is a collection of objects or individuals with at least one characteristic in common called?

The term "population" refers to a collection of objects, individuals, or data points that share at least one common characteristic. In statistics and research, a population encompasses the entire group from which a sample may be drawn for analysis. For instance, if you are studying the test scores of high school students in a particular city, all the high school students in that city collectively represent the population of interest.

In various fields, understanding populations is essential as it helps researchers identify trends, make forecasts, and draw conclusions that can be generalized to a larger group. This concept is foundational across disciplines such as biology, sociology, and statistics. By accurately defining a population, one can enhance the validity of findings and ensure the insights gained are relevant to the group as a whole.